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This show belongs to the Adelaide Fringe 2026 season. This season is now over.

A noose hangs from a rustic wooden wall, creating a stark contrast between the rope and the natural wood texture. A black background surrounds the image
A woman with glasses and a stylish black hat, looking confidently at the camera, smiling softly.
A painting of a woman absorbed in a book, seated by a window in a cell with soft light illuminating her surroundings. A gallows is visible through the window
Adelaide Fringe 2026

In Her Words

Between 1789 and 1951, twenty-five women were executed in Australia. Their names were forgotten, their stories silenced—until now.

In this powerful new show, historian and storyteller Deb Robinson gives voice to the condemned. With meticulous research and evocative storytelling, In Her Words reveals the lives of mothers, daughters, outsiders, and survivors whose fates ended at the gallows.

This isn’t just true crime—it’s raw, real history that demands to be heard. Step inside the shadows of colonial justice:

            🔪 Discover the crimes that shocked a nation.

            👩‍🦰 Hear the voices society chose to erase.

           ⚖️ Confront the justice—and injustice—of the past.

Gripping, haunting, unforgettable.

Q&A and resources available upon request. Please contact Schools Program Coordinator at schools@adelaidefringe.com.au

Presented by: Deb Robinson

Deb Robinson is a historian, author, and host of Locked Up With History, where she shares stories from Victoria’s darker past. With over 30 years in tourism and 40 years of research in family and local history, Deb has been uncovering and sharing forgotten tales since joining the Twisted History team in 2013. She played a key role in establishing the Geelong Gaol Museum, now the National Crime & Justice Museum, and performs as “Madam Murder” in Criminal Outsider with Roy Maloy, winning awards at the Adelaide Fringe. In 2026, Deb debuts her solo show In Her Words, exploring the 25 women executed in Australia. She has co-authored several crime histories and is currently writing In Her Words and Geelong Gaol: A Short History.
Workshops & Talks • Historical
Victoria • SA Premiere
 
Fringe Fund Recipient
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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: MA15+
Target audience: High School (15-17)
Sexual Assault
Depicts Violence: Occasional, Mild

Please note

Includes factual stories of executions and death- may not be suitable for all patrons.

Accessibility

 
High audio content

Presenter

Presented by: Deb Robinson

Deb Robinson is a historian, author, and host of Locked Up With History, where she shares stories from Victoria’s darker past. With over 30 years in tourism and 40 years of research in family and local history, Deb has been uncovering and sharing forgotten tales since joining the Twisted History team in 2013. She played a key role in establishing the Geelong Gaol Museum, now the National Crime & Justice Museum, and performs as “Madam Murder” in Criminal Outsider with Roy Maloy, winning awards at the Adelaide Fringe. In 2026, Deb debuts her solo show In Her Words, exploring the 25 women executed in Australia. She has co-authored several crime histories and is currently writing In Her Words and Geelong Gaol: A Short History.