Imagine yourself as part of the Sydney theatre-going public in 1800. Describe how you felt when Governor Gidley King banned all drama because he felt that it was creating opportunities of robbery in Sydney town.
I am appalled! How dare the Governor strip us of our access to the arts! If the colonies are to move beyond their convict roots then we as a people must not be deprived of our access to the theatre. Attending the theatre allows people to move beyond themselves and experience life outside their station, if only for a moment, giving them something to aspire to rather than a life as a booster or sosh on. Only someone completely dippy would believe that drama creates opportunities for robbery in Sydney town. When I attend drama I see chance to relish in the delights of Mother England and not feel so uneasy with my new home. Besides, if our gibfaced Governor was really concerned about crime in Sydney town then maybe he ought to stop pardoning all the paddy convicts and letting them roam our town freely. More so, he could make a point of recruiting some less jollocks mutton-shunters to take care of the place as well! His actions are bescumbering the world of theatre and I for one say shame on him!
Glossary:
Paddy: Irish
Dippy: insane
Booster: thief
Sosh on: drunk
Mutton shunter: police officer
Jollocks: fat
Gibfaced: ugly
Bescumbering: defecating on
Em's Literature Blog 
I love this entry Emily. It captures really well what must have been an astonishing moment in early Sydney town. It has always amazed me that the story of Henry IV in Sydney in 1800 has not been highlighted by historians as a litmus test of feelings about the English aristocracy at the time…. Thank you for all your good work in the last few semesters Emily and I am sorry you have had such a difficult time in this last semester!
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