21 Hearts play honours bravery and courage

BALLARAT Mechanics’ Institute and Theatre 180 have announced the release of another additional performance for the sell-out production of 21 HEARTS: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke.

A previous extra performance has been sold out.

It will be held on Saturday 11 July, commencing at 7pm Funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Saluting Their Service Program, 21 HEARTS is a true story from World War Two.

Vivian Bullwinkel and 64 other Australian nurses boarded the Vyner Brooke to flee the Japanese invasion of Singapore in February, 1942.

They were bombed by Japanese fighter planes and eventually Bullwinkel and some other survivors found their way to Rodji Beach on Banka Island where they surrendered.

Twenty-two nurses were forced to march into the sea where they were machine gunned. Bullwinkel was the only survivor.

She spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp and the rest of her life fighting for recognition of her colleagues’ bravery.

Previous audiences have praised the production.

“I have the greatest respect for the actresses,” said Defence Force Nursing director Group Captain Kath Stein.

“It is such a fantastic stage production, lighting and effects.

“It was immersive. Their story deserves to be told, always remembered.”

Marion Snowden said the show was “was worth every minute and every cent”.

“A remarkable and powerful piece of theatre so brilliantly crafted and delivered,” she said.

Tickets for the additional performance are available at events.humanitix.com