 European theatrical traditions came to Australia with European settlement commencing in 1788 with the First Fleet.The first production, "The Recruiting Officer" written by George Farquhar in 1706, was performed in 1789 by convicts.The extraordinary circumstances of the foundation of Australian theatre was recounted in the 1988 play "Our Country's Good" by Timberlake Wertenbaker - the participants were prisoners watched by sadistic guards and the leading lady was under threat of the death penalty.