THE BURNING OF BENTLEY’S HOTEL
Devised by the company
1979: The Mill Theatre, Geelong
This production was part of the Geelong history series and was based on the interplay between Geelong and Ballarat during the gold rush. The theatre was laid out in a grid form (the ropes suggesting this can be seen on the floor). This grid depicted the administrative layout of the diggings that eventually sparked the confrontation with authorities in the burning of Bentley’s hotel and the insurrection at the Eureka Stockade. The play used game-structure to evoke the narrative and involve the audience (as in this photo) in interaction with the performers.
Photo: Ian Fox