A compelling true story of the celebration of women’s strength, love and hope in the face of adversity, THEATRE 180 presents 21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke, as part of a Western Australian tour from 24 May, before playing in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial’s new theatre from 24 July 2025.
Written by Jenny Davis, this powerful new play about Australian nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre, the paly also honours the 21 nurses murdered after surrendering to Japanese troops, and the unbreakable spirit of those who lived, grieved, and remembered them.
Vivian Bullwinkel was one of 65 Australian nurses who boarded the Vyner Brooke in an attempt to flee the Japanese invasion of Singapore in February, 1942. Bombed by Japanese fighter planes and after spending days at sea, she and some other survivors found their way to Radji Beach on Banka Island where they surrendered.
In one of the most atrocious acts of war crimes in our history, 22 nurses were forced to march into the sea where they were callously machine gunned. The only survivor and witness, Vivian spent the rest of the war in a prison camp before liberation, and her remaining years fighting for recognition of the bravery of her friends and colleagues; their strength and courage in the face of death sustaining her for the rest of her illustrious life.
A story of hope, courage, resilience and heart, 21 Hearts relays the resilient Aussie humour displayed by the women in the camp and provides a respectful and authentic voice to those who were silenced, remembering them for who they were and not just for what happened to them.
Executive producer and lead actress, Rebecca Davis, who plays Bullwinkel, said the production is both a tribute and a reclamation. “Vivian Bullwinkel was an icon of quiet strength,” said Davis.
“To walk in her shoes every performance, to speak her truth in this space – it’s something I carry with reverence. And it feels especially important now, as we reflect on the cost of war, and the resilience of women who bore its weight.”
Directed by Stuart Halusz, 21 Hearts features six of WA’s most outstanding actors including Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Rebecca Davis, Michelle Fornasier, Alex Jones, Helen Searle and Alison van Reeken.
Following he West Australian tour, the production will find its most fitting home at the newly unveiled Memorial theatre, as it honours one of the most courageous and tragic chapters in Australia’s wartime history.
“This story doesn’t ask for pity – it demands presence,” said Davis. “Audiences aren’t just learning history – they’re feeling it. It’s emotional, yes, but ultimately life-affirming. People leave reminded of courage, of sisterhood, and of how love and memory can outlast even war.”
Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said the choice of THEATRE 180’s 21 Hearts as the first live production in the new theatre was deliberate. “Vivian Bullwinkel’s story speaks directly to the brutality of war. But it also allows us to see the nurses of Banka Island for who they were; young, funny, devoted and professional,” he said.
“21 Hearts asks us to reflect both on what we lost with their murder, and what we have gained by their example, their love for one another and for the nursing profession. This play reminds us that behind every name, there is a voice, a story, and a legacy,” said Mr Anderson.
21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke will play selected dates as part of a Western Australian tour from 24 May – 4 July, before playing at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, from 24 July – 3 August 2025. For more information, visit: www.theatre180.com.au for details.
Image: The Cast of 21 Hearts Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke (supplied)