In 2024 production began on the pilot of a new TV streaming series the depicts the full lead up to the 1919 Fitzroy Vendetta.
Moving through the late 1890s with the rise of push gangs, the rise of the opium dens and Chinese lotteries, the dominance of the police unit known as the terrible 10 in 1900, the female matrix moved in to the landscape of the criminal underworld by 1905, and then the ultimate bloodbath that led to only one person remaining alive and not in prison, Vendetta 19 presents the most incredible Australian true crime story of all time.
As the Vendetta raged across Melbourne’s inner suburbs until the end of 1919 leaving only Squizzy Taylor as the most notorious organized criminal and True Crime figure alongside the likes of Al Capone’s, Ned Kelly, and the Kray twins.
Vendetta 19 will drop in selected cinemas across Melbourne and Adelaide in October 2024. Please share to your networks and follow Vendetta 19 for updates
Is infamy as powerful as fame? Or is fear a better weapon? Playing the role of Dolly Gray, Shylie Arzouan has stepped into the role with a combination of charm and terrifying charisma as the wife of one of Australia’s most iconic organised criminals of all time, it should perhaps be said that Squizzy Taylor was the husband of this truly formidable woman.
The casting of the characters in Vendetta 19 has been extremely important to us. Wherever possible we have tried to find actors who have similar personal attributes to the people they are playing, along with the ability to act in a high level, demanding role like this.
One of the characters we were able to include in this screenplay is a fascinating person. He was featured quite prominently in the biography of his wife, “7246 Minnie”.
John was a country boy from a tragic home. The death of his father impacted him, though he never seemed to lose his boyish charm and had a charisma about him throughout his life. A dock worker, he and Minnie paired up when she was in her late teens and still married to her first husband. We see John get involved in a number of amazing adventures that broke the law, including stealing and reselling baled of expensive wool from the docks where he worked, breaking into jewellery shops, and working for his wife as an endorser and standover man.
Minnie would become the enemy of Squizzy throughout the 1919 Vendetta, with the first and last bullets shot in the Vendetta show inside two of her brothels with Minnie being present, and the last bullet shot into her face by Squizzy Taylor (spoiler – she lived).
By the 1930’s, while trying to prosecute John, the Police also arrested and charged Minnie for making and selling sly grog. It was something she’d done for decades, and the police were either paid off or just didn’t bother to really pursue her beyond a fine here or there. However, when her husband John was suspected of being involved in a series of nearly 30 bomb blasts that rocked Melbourne inthe late 1920’s and early 30’s, they also came to suspect that Minnie may have been involved too. As someone who has been constructing alcohol making equipment such as copper stills and bathtub vats for decades, Minnie would have almost certainly had the ability and knowledge to construct pipe bombs. The outcome resulted in Minnie being sentenced to prison, leaving her youngest of two daughters and her husband to fend for themselves while she was inside.
As a measure to protect their 7-year-old daughter Patricia, John opted to send her to Methodist Ladies College as a border for the duration of Minnie’s prison sentence. Yet the photo below also has a fascinating detail that needs to be pointed out. As a career criminal, dock-worker, standover man and gunman, John Clark had a number of old enemies who would no doubt have loved to take a shot at him if an opportunity presented itself. And there would have been no place better to find someone you’re trying to shoot than at a place they regularly attend, like school visits on a Sunday. As a result, in this picture, we see a picture of John Clark, walking with 7-year-old Patricia, dropping her off at MLC, with what his surviving family believe is a small, automatic pistol on his trouser pocket with his fingers inches from its trigger. The outline of the gun can just be made out, and it gives us a clear view of the kind of lifestyles the organised criminals of the 1920’s and 30’s lived and the dangers that surrounded them at all times.
The actor we have selected to play John is an accomplished professional athlete named Tyson Popplestone. His charisma and charm are a perfect fit for the real John Clark, while his strength and endurance as a runner makes him an equally amazing fit for the intense fight scenes he will be acting out in Vendetta 19.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from the VCA, (Company “07”)Terry Yeboah has worked for the Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Black Swan Theatre (Perth), Malthouse Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company, Capital Theatre, Princess Theatre and La Mama. Terry performed and toured a one man play titled Boxman, written for him by the well-known writer Daniel Keen. After finishing up a tour with Disney’s Lion King, Terry co-directed AMKA performed at the Fairfax Studio, Art Centre Melbourne, to sell-out crowds, being awarded one of the highest selling gross sales since the opening of the studio. Terry has been a guest Alumni speaker for the Graduating students of VCA, NIDA and WAPA. And just finished a 6-month tour with Hit productions “Sapphires”. He just finished assistant producing a movie titled “ RESIDENCE” with “BREEDING GROUND PRODUCTIONS”which comes out in the middle of the year 2024. Terry Yeboah just finished working with Melbourne Shakespeare company in Julius Caesar at 45 Downstairs.
Some of the TV and Film that Terry has been involved in are: Neighbour, Blue Heelers, Grist for the Gossip Mill, RUSH, Kath & Kimderella , The Librarians, We Only Know Violence, Australia on Trial, 10 terrorist, Residence, Hotel Underground, Sizzler 77, Sizzler 88, Sex and Death, Shoes Off, The Travel Councillor, Scams Incorporated, House Cleaner, I Love You Too, What Ever Happened To That Guy, The Girl Who Was An Almond, Will Alex Taylor Experience, Super Wog (SOAD).
Terry is about to embark on an amazing journey with Roy Maloy from True Crimes and Gracie – Gotch-Ya. He will be playing Arthur Skirrett on Roy’s true story of Vendetta 19 as he brings to life one of the most enigmatic and troubled characters of Melbourne’s true crime past.
As a young man Arthur Skerritt was a Sri Lankan lad who found himself alone on the streets of Fitzroy, Coburg and Melbourne. He made some of his living singing African American gospel songs as he busked on the streets, while also becoming involved in petty theft.
We look forward to seeing what Terry can make of this amazing role in Vendetta 19.
