In Hell Ship, his acclaimed one-man theatre production, Michael Veitch brings us the true story of the Ticonderoga and her single, calamitous voyage to Australia in 1852. A fine and beautiful clipper, Ticonderoga sailed from England with nearly 800 mainly Scots passengers onboard, all hoping for a better life. What ensued was a nightmare as deadly typhus erupted throughout her decks in an uncontrollable epidemic. In Hell Ship, Veitch recounts the tale as the ship’s surgeon – the hero of the story – on his first ever voyage. The young doctor was in fact Veitch’s very own great-grandfather, who went on to become one of Bendigo’s most prominent early citizens. Although a tale of the sea, Hell Ship is a story of survival, endurance and love. After 170 years, bringing Hell Ship to the Bendigo and Heathcote region is, for Michael, a very personal journey.
Hell Ship – The Journey of the Ticonderoga
