Dasher - Never Told

NAE Drama presents... Dasher - Never Told (the true story of a local tragedy)

On the 27th of March 1943, HMS Dasher (D37) – a converted American escort carrier that had become a lifeline for the Royal Navy – slipped beneath the cold, dark waters off the coast of Ardrossan. In just 8 minutes, 379 lives were lost, leaving a community stunned and forever marked by grief.

Dasher – Never Told, takes the audience back to that fateful evening and the days that followed, weaving together the memories of survivors and the silent resolve of families who never received a body to bury.

Through a tapestry of monologues, vignettes and ensemble scenes, the play reveals the lingering echo of unanswered questions: “What actually caused the Dasher to explode? Why was the official report shrouded in secrecy? Where are the bodies of those who lost their lives?”

Join us the day after the 83rd anniversary, on Saturday the 28 March 2026 at 3 pm, for a moving, locally‑crafted production. The performance will be held at Saint Peters Community Hall, 1 South Crescent Road, Ardrossan, KA22 8DU (very close to were the tragic event occurred.)

After the show we will take a short, reflective walk across the road to the Dasher Memorial, where you can pay your respects alongside the cast and fellow community members. See the story of HMS Dasher performed by the local community. Don’t miss the chance to witness a piece of local history, that has never been told on stage before.