Beyond the Sea

A musical especially created for the Bridewell Youth Music Theatre in 2004.

Based on a true story Beyond The Sea tells of best friends Hannah Stanley and Hannah Porter who were found guilty of theft and transported with 120 other women on the convict ship 'Canada' to Botany Bay Australia in 1810.

Music and Lyrics by Grant Olding.

www.grantolding.com

Book by Paul Griffiths.

Hannah Stanley (born 13th June 1790) and her friend Hannah Porter both aged 18 had the death sentence handed down to them (by hanging) along with 15 other malefactors on March 30th 1808 at Maidstone court. The crime was stealing from their employers Mr William and Elisabeth Dawson a goose feather bed, two sheets, two blankets, three counterpanes, two gowns, four petticoats, seven pairs of cotton stockings and six pocket handkerchiefs, whilst in service at their house in St Paul, Deptford, Kent. In the records they are described as servants cum slaves.

The sentence was commuted to transportation to Botany Bay, and both women sailed on the convict ship "Canada" from England on 23rd March 1810 (now aged 20) with 120 other females. The trip took 160 days and arrived in Sydney on 8th Sep 1810. Hannah Stanley formed a liaison with a marine officer named John Dixon and arrived six months pregnant. His name was registered on the birth certificate and as a result of his sponsorship she landed a free woman. She gave birth to daughter Charlotte on 20th Dec 1810, but did not marry John Dixon. She married Daniel Clarke on 2nd May 1814 (when Charlotte was four years old) and lived to the age of 64. the cause of her death was being struck by a carriage.

What happened to Hannah Porter we do not know, but presumably without the sponsorship of a marine officer on her side she served out her life sentence.

Inspired by the above facts, a beautiful story was written of friendship, love and self sacrifice.

The women sing of their hopes for the future as they near the end of their sea voyage in "Nearly There".