Taking Liberty
Tuesday 9th December 2025
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Directed by Stuart Halusz. Assistant Director Craig Williams. Featuring Stuart Halusz, Luke Hewitt and Jarryd Dobson.
THEATRE 180 in collaboration with WA Museum presents one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history – the defeat of Liberty by Australia II in the 1983 America’s Cup.
In an epic, against-the-odds finish to a best-of-seven race, Skipper John Bertrand led his crew to turn the tide from a 3-1 deficit in race five and claim victory in a nail-biting decider, one of the biggest comebacks in sporting history.
Combining the excitement of live theatre against a cinematic backdrop, Taking Liberty by Ingle Knight celebrates the moment in time which defined a nation and gave international prominence to our cultural identity and fighting spirit, ending America’s 132-year dominance of the sport in what became known as the Race of the Century.
A story of enormous national significance: one of grit, perseverance, technological innovations and the athleticism of those who changed the course of history.
“THEATRE 180 is proud to continue our 31-year history of telling Western Australian stories with this production. Taking Liberty, as the title promises, highlights the tenacity, audacity and larrikin belief in resounding success which characterised the 1983 campaign to wrest America’s Cup from the bolt holes of the New York Yacht Club, where it had sat firmly for 132 years.
Filled with colourful characters, drama and laughs aplenty, this play takes us back to the moment in time when Western Australia was put on the world map and the stage was set for the port city of Fremantle, where Australia II and her famous winged-keel now proudly hangs in our WA Maritime Museum, to shine.”
Stuart Halusz, Artistic Director THEATRE 180
Duration 90 min (no interval). Suitable for 10 yrs and up.