Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5 - The Musical

08/12/2023

In 10 minutes it will be exactly 81 years since the devastating Seacliff Mental Hospital Fire which took the lives of 37 women.

It has been eight years since I produced my show, Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5 in Dunedin at the Mayfair Theatre. We closed on this night, the 8th of December and held a very emotional yet moving commemoration afterwards.

For the first time, because I can, and because it's the 8th year, I am sharing the video of the full-length Dunedin Production of "Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5".

https://youtu.be/NODX13UiyvM

For something that was born in my little fifteen year old brain, I'm still super proud of this and of what it became.

I'd love for you all to see it.

God rest the souls of all the women of Ward 5.

On the 8th of December 1942, a fire destroyed Ward 5 of Seacliff Mental Hospital, taking the lives of 37 of the 39 female patients inside of it. At the time,...

12/12/2017

07/12/2017

75 years ago, this nation lost 37 of its people. Women who had been held for reasons, many of which today would be violations of human rights. The manner in which they were taken is awful, locked in while fire consumed everything around them. These women were intelligent, strong, warm, funny and kind - they were human beings, known in their final days as "inmates", most simply in need of care and understanding. Today, and this weekend, along with my 14-strong cast, and all those who will be in attendance, we celebrate the lives of these women . Tomorrow and Sunday their lives will be finally officially acknowledged in 2 memorial services in Dunedin.

We remember, with love, the 37 women who lost their lives in the fire at Seacliff Mental Hospital, December 8th, 1942. ⚘

Find and buy tickets: concerts, sports, arts, theatre, broadway shows, family events at TicketDirect.co.nz

03/12/2017

Margaret Palmer Thorpe, or "Peggy" as she was known to her family, was the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs. Palmer-Chapman. Peggy attended Craighead school in Timaru as a boarder. She was married to the Rev. Francis Harvey Thorpe on the 11th of September, 1934. Here they are pictured together on the veranda of their home in Timaru later that year. Peggy was 39 at the time of her death in the Seacliff Fire.

Special thanks to Mary Chapman, Peggy's niece for the information and photo of Aunt Peggy.

We remember, with love, Margaret (Peggy) Palmer Thorpe. 🌹

02/12/2017

The cast of Seacliff: Demise of Ward 5 hit the streets of Wellington today! Did you see us? Have you booked your tickets?! One more week - don't miss out!!!

http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/season/1542