On Friday 13th May 2022 from 2pm onwards, Friends of Monkton Arts will host several free performances at the Appley Tower, on Appley beach in Ryde.

This is to commemorate the lives of those who left as cargo, convicted of petty crimes, on the First Fleet to Australia on 13th May 1787.

The Fleet consisted of 11 ships, led by HMS Sirius, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, which set sail from the ‘Motherbank’ moorings within close proximity to Appley Tower, the destination being Botany Bay, New South Wales.

The cargo was 766 people made up of men, women and children who were all convicted of petty crimes from the ‘Nineteen Crimes’ list dictating the death penalty or transportation to the colonies.

A free performance ‘One Day they’ll say’, written by playwright Annemarie Bowler, will be showcased alongside songs from Isle of Wight’s She Shells and The Watch.

To finish off, audience members are invited to sample and raise a glass of ‘nineteen crimes’ wine courtesy of friends of Monkton Arts to commemorate this important anniversary.