In 1880, being the only woman on board a cargo ship in the South China Sea is not the safest place for Jessie, recently-widowed and demoted to the worst cabin. Especially when she's puking for Scotland and sailors are dropping dead by the day.
Ship’s cook Jin Hai could help her, he knows medicine, but his business is escape and refuge, not sick Scottish wifies - until he becomes the main murder suspect.
On the high seas, options for allies are limited. But can Jessie and Jin Hai survive long enough to help each other?
Ship Rats is an uplifting drama about finding allies in unexpected places based on the writer’s garrulous Glaswegian great, great, granny who sailed the world.
The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council.
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Contains strong language, attitudes of sexism and racism, depictions of blood and vomiting, reference to murder and abortion, themes related to pregnancy and descriptions of violence.
If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.