The Hanging of Elizabeth Woolcock - 10 out of 10
Vendetta Productions
TICKETS: The Hanging of Elizabeth Woolcock | Adelaide Fringe
On 30
December 1873, Elizabeth Woolcock stood before the gallows in Adelaide Gaol and
became the only woman ever executed by hanging in South Australia. Her crime:
accused of poisoning her husband with mercury. This remains one of the most
hotly debated convictions in the state’s history. Tried over just three days,
her case was handled by an inexperienced lawyer more accustomed to petty theft
and property disputes than a capital trial. A jury of twelve men deliberated
for less than half an hour before returning a guilty verdict.
Presented
by Vendetta Productions, The Hanging of Elizabeth Woolcock transforms
this dark chapter of colonial history into a haunting and deeply affecting live
performance. Set within the historic Mess and Recreation Hall of Adelaide Gaol,
a mere forty-two metres from Woolcock’s actual burial site, the production
builds a powerful sense of authenticity and atmosphere from the moment
audiences take their seats. The location itself breathes history; the cold
stone walls, echoing acoustics, and proximity to the gallows make it impossible
not to feel the weight of what transpired there.
The play
opens with a voiceover of the judge sentencing Woolcock to death – the tone for
the story to come. From there, the narrative unfolds through a reflection on
Woolcock’s life during her final hour. Her traumatic journey is brought vividly
to life: the early loss of her father, the abandonment by her mother, the rape that
left her unable to bear children, her reliance on opioids (morphine in this
version) to dull emotional and physical pain, and the eventual reappearance of
her mother leading to her marriage to the abusive Thomas Woolcock at just
seventeen. It is a portrait not only of one woman’s tragedy but of the social
and judicial inequities that defined a time when women’s voices carried so
little weight.
Hilary
Boyce, who also portrays Woolcock in the short film adaptation, delivers a
performance of remarkable depth and emotional precision. Her portrayal is both
raw and restrained – a testament to her craft. Boyce captures every shade of
Woolcock’s experience: her terror, resilience, regret, and fleeting moments of
hope. It is an arduous role, physically and emotionally, and Boyce commits to
it completely, holding the audience in rapt silence, long after the final
applause is due.
The compact
stage – no larger than Woolcock’s actual cell – becomes a character. Thoughtful
use of the set and props enhances the claustrophobic realism: a small bed, a
chest of drawers, a Bible, flowers, and the haunting presence of the
lead-weighted white dress that awaited her execution. Lighting and sound design
are used sparingly but with great impact, evoking the creeping dread and quiet
desperation of Woolcock’s final hours.
The Hanging
of Elizabeth Woolcock is not light viewing, nor is it suitable for younger
audiences. But it is essential theatre – bold, unsettling, and profoundly
human. By reviving Woolcock’s story on the very grounds where she drew her last
breath, Vendetta Productions has created theatre that lingers long after the
final moment, reminding us that some stories, however tragic, demand to be
told.
- Andrew Broadbent
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