MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY
Home » News » Bladderwrack a puerile pirate pantomime

Bladderwrack a puerile pirate pantomime

Actor David Tredinnick’s career has traversed many different genres on both stage and screen, but the Altona based thespian is preparing to star in his first ever science fiction pirate horror comedy.

That’s how Bladderwrack is described, the play Tredinnick co-wrote with Adam Browne, and which he will star in when it makes its world premiere at the Explosives Factory in St Kilda from November 5 to 15.

A heady mix of opera, monsters, and pantomime, Bladderwrack is the tale of two ancient pirates, Saucy Jack and Bagfoot, who dwell in the bowels of a sunken galleon and whose lives are sustained by the ecosystem that has overtaken the bilge around them.

Bladderwrack has been created from a story that Browne originally penned in 2006, and to which added illustrations and characters that eventually became a book called The Ship’s Big Steaming Log.

The book, which also includes scientific papers, poetry, a recipe, and more stories, will be on sale in the foyer, while Tredinnick and the rest of the case perform the play on stage.

“Bladderwrack is a love machine built out of two drowned pirates, an opera-singing figurehead, a over worked assistant stage manager, two shell-shocked 1940s radio stars, and some terrible-tasting fish,” Tredinnick said.

“The play is also just a thinly-disguised advertisement for the book of the play,” added Tredinnick who is joined by cast members Oscar Munroe, Samuel Thomas-Holland and Harriet Turner-Browne in the play co-produced by Theatre Works.

Tickets for Bladderwrack are on sale now at: https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2025/bladderwrack

Digital Editions


  • Festival for all abilities

    Festival for all abilities

    Ability Fest is returning to Melbourne on 11 April, 2026, with a new focus on industrial venue accessibility at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.…

More News

  • More cameras coming to Victoria’s roads

    More cameras coming to Victoria’s roads

    The state government will roll out 35 new fixed cameras, two point-to-point networks and tougher seatbelt and distracted-driving enforcement as part of its Road Safety Action Plan. The state government…

  • Crack down on dodgy drivers

    Crack down on dodgy drivers

    New reforms are being introduced to protect Victorian taxi or ride-share passengers from being ripped off. The reforms, which come into effect on Sunday 1 March, will make it easier…

  • Police appeal for information on the disappearance of Brendan Breen

    Police appeal for information on the disappearance of Brendan Breen

    Police are appealing for information as part of their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Brendan Breen 14 years ago. The then 55-year-old was last seen in Melbourne on 12…

  • Imperials through

    Imperials through

    Williamstown Imperials will be looking to cause an upset in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association group A T20 grand final. The Imperials, the only non-senior division side left in the…

  • From the archives

    From the archives

    Star Weekly looks back on the pages of our predecessors. 40 years ago 26 February, 1986 Williamstown will not get its promised $1.2 million boat launching ramp. 30 years ago…

  • Doctor design

    Doctor design

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 535233 Like dozens of his colleagues, Western Health anaesthetist Dr David Bramley was enjoying the spacious and modern surroundings of the new Footscray Hospital…

  • Volunteer hails new hospital

    Volunteer hails new hospital

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 535233 The new Footscray Hospital is much bigger, more modern, offers many more services and is much more conveniently located than its predecessor. But…

  • Footscray Hospital’s opening day

    Footscray Hospital’s opening day

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 535233 The opening of the new Footscray Hospital on Wednesday 18 February was a landmark event for the western suburbs, with the state of…

  • Hit and run investigated

    Hit and run investigated

    Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed a hit and run collision in South Kingsville on Thursday night to come forward. Emergency services were called to Blackshaws Road about 11pm…

  • Stars coming to Altona North

    Stars coming to Altona North

    International box lacrosse is coming to Altona North. Both the Next Gen Series and the IIJL Commonwealth Cup are being hosted at Alan Lewer Box Court. The inaugural Next Gen…