From Roses to Poison | Après les Roses, le Poison
Napoleon in exile on Saint Helena – the Australian connection with the Balcombes and The Briars, Mt Martha
by Marijke Eysbertse-van Schaik
directed by Donald McManus
produced by Michael [Michel] Bula
Final version translated into French by Michelle BEUGNOT with the input of Professor Marc ORLANDO and the translation courses of MONASH UNIVERSITY
Updated and modified according to the author’s changes by Michel BULA
AUDITIONS Venue : LA MAISON DE MAITRE BUILDING
2pm Saturday 5 April 2025
7pm Tuesday 8 April 2025
Listen to the SBS Francais Podcast interview
Semaine de la francophonie – le théâtre comme “mariage entre les cultures” 20 March 2025
CAST
Napoléon
William Balcombe
Mrs Balcombe
Jane
Betsy
Lucy
Sir Hudson Lowe
George Carstairs
Count de Montholon
Albine de Montholon
Dr. Antonmarchi
After his defeat at the battle of Waterloo in 1815, the French Emperor Napoleon I has been exiled to St Helena – an island in the South of the Atlantic Ocean. William Balcombe, Superintendent of the East India Company of the island, agrees to the Emperor’s request for a temporary stay at his home, The Briars. Elder daughter Jane soon starts giving Napoleon English lessons. After initial misgivings, her refreshingly uninhibited younger sister Betsy, falls for the charms of the suave imperial visitor and his French entourage. William’s wife Jane appears to be the only one who is worried about the effect of the family’s hospitality towards the man who is still regarded as Britain’s enemy, will have on the family’s future.
Everything takes a turn for the worse with the arrival on St Helena of Sir Hudson Lowe, the new Governor. The Emperor receives orders to depart immediately for Longwood, where he is to be guarded around the clock by 3,000 British soldiers. What happens at Longwood during the ensuing years – suspicious deaths, escape plans, dangerous liaisons – remains shrouded in mystery to this day.
Ma vie est comme une pièce de théâtre*
*My life is like a play. Napoleon Bonaparte.
From Nomad Players production May 2009
6 PERFORMANCES – A rehearsed and costumed reading
Performance venue : LA MAISON DE MAITRE BUILDING
6 shows – Wednesday 30 April 2025 to Saturday 3 May 2025
Evenings [4]: Wednesday 30 April 2025 to Saturday 3 May 2025 inclusive all at 8pm
Matinees [2]: Friday 2 May 2025 and Sat 3 May 2025 both at 2.30 pm
Tickets
Sneak Preview Wednesday 30 April 2025 all tickets $25 – ALL other shws : $27 and full time students $22 includes booking fee + wines before show
PRICES INCLUDE DRINKS [Dominique Portet wines] + BEFORE SHOW [details below – included in the price – great value!] come 30 minutes before show start
