Arthur Haynes & the Smoking Gun
True crime, scorned lovers, ballroom horror and scandalous murder in front of hundreds of guests
From the company behind the acclaimed productions of A Fortunate Life and CATALPA: Flight to Freedom comes ARTHUR HAYNES AND THE SMOKING GUN, the extraordinary true story of a crime that shocked the nation and a courtroom trial that tested the law in Western Australia.
In 1925, during a glamorous charity ball at Perth's Government House Ballroom, Audrey Jacob shot and killed Cyril Gidley in front of hundreds of guests. The scandal captivated the nation, sparking a sensational courtroom drama that challenged society's understanding of justice, morality and truth.
Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, the story transports audiences into a world of glamour, gossip and intrigue. As the mystery unfolds, facts become tangled in speculation, secrets emerge and what appears to be an open and shut case becomes anything but.
Written by acclaimed playwright Jenny Davis and directed by THEATRE 180 Artistic Director Stuart Halusz, this production combines captivating performances, evocative 1920s music and sweeping cinematic visuals to bring this remarkable chapter of Western Australian history to life.