Prison Theatre Time Machine
A Gallery and Mini-Performance Celebrating 40 Years of W.H.o.S. Prison Theatre
May 26-29 2022 at the Salvation Army ARC Building, Downtown Victoria BC.
Co-Produced by William Head on Stage (WHoS) and SNAFU Society of Unexpected Spectacles
Experience compressed history – four decades of standing ovations, stage fright, and singing in public for the first time – at a walk-through gallery and shadow puppetry performance celebrating the past 40 years of prison theatre. Documented in photos, posters, crew T-shirts, news articles, costume pieces and handcrafted giant puppets—these artifacts of prison theatre history decorate four hallways of the gallery tour, one hallway for each decade, starting in the 1980s up to present day.
Victoria’s William Head Prison has been the home of WHoS Prison Theatre Company for forty years, led by incarcerated artists who create and perform plays for the general public. Normally each fall, thousands of people buy tickets, drive out through Metchosin and sit in the prison gymnasium to witness the hard work of the incarcerated actors, builders and musicians. As we were unable to do a play in 2021, instead the incarcerated artists designed and built the Prison Theatre Time Machine: a gallery installation that we will share with public audiences at the Salvation Army Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in downtown Victoria May 26-29, 2022.
The tour begins, guided by an audio soundtrack of the voices of William Head on Stage (W.H.o.S.) artists past and present. Like Alice down-the-rabbit-hole, you follow the shadow of a person chasing a butterfly through each hallway of prison theatre artifacts. Audiences pre-book a tour timeslot, and enter the gallery in groups of ten. Each tour is about 30 minutes long.
CREDITS:
This event is Co-Produced by SNAFU and William Head On Stage.
The Prison Theatre Time Machine event is co-designed and built by Jeni Luther and the incarcerated artists of William Head Prison.
The Salvation Army Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre is thrilled to support the transformative work of W.H.o.S. and SNAFU.
SNAFU is grateful for the support of the Capital Regional District Arts Commission, the BC Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. A big heartfelt thank you to the staff and team at CSC and the Salvation Army for their countless hours of support with this project.
Experience compressed history – four decades of standing ovations, stage fright, and singing in public for the first time – at a walk-through gallery and shadow puppetry performance celebrating the past 40 years of prison theatre. Documented in photos, posters, crew T-shirts, news articles, costume pieces and handcrafted giant puppets—these artifacts of prison theatre history decorate four hallways of the gallery tour, one hallway for each decade, starting in the 1980s up to present day.
Victoria’s William Head Prison has been the home of WHoS Prison Theatre Company for forty years, led by incarcerated artists who create and perform plays for the general public. Normally each fall, thousands of people buy tickets, drive out through Metchosin and sit in the prison gymnasium to witness the hard work of the incarcerated actors, builders and musicians. As we were unable to do a play in 2021, instead the incarcerated artists designed and built the Prison Theatre Time Machine: a gallery installation that we will share with public audiences at the Salvation Army Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in downtown Victoria May 26-29, 2022.
The tour begins, guided by an audio soundtrack of the voices of William Head on Stage (W.H.o.S.) artists past and present. Like Alice down-the-rabbit-hole, you follow the shadow of a person chasing a butterfly through each hallway of prison theatre artifacts. Audiences pre-book a tour timeslot, and enter the gallery in groups of ten. Each tour is about 30 minutes long.
CREDITS:
This event is Co-Produced by SNAFU and William Head On Stage.
The Prison Theatre Time Machine event is co-designed and built by Jeni Luther and the incarcerated artists of William Head Prison.
The Salvation Army Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre is thrilled to support the transformative work of W.H.o.S. and SNAFU.
SNAFU is grateful for the support of the Capital Regional District Arts Commission, the BC Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. A big heartfelt thank you to the staff and team at CSC and the Salvation Army for their countless hours of support with this project.
This creative arts experience affected me so deeply, with a real and lasting raw honesty…Needless to say I have grown as a person since becoming a part of W.H.o.S. I have reconnected with parts of myself that I thought were lost forever.” - P.H. W.H.o.S. Incarcerated Artist 2021
As men we don't often allow ourselves the opportunity, or have the opportunity, to be vulnerable, express how we feel, and share that with others. It was incredible to witness that by the cast [of W.H.o.S.] tonight. Thank you for sharing that with us.” - Parker, W.H.o.S. audience member 2019
It was powerful to watch the stories of individuals and the community be woven together … to see the joy, the humour, the sweetness of hearts behind the costumes. … I believe these moments are truly healing for everyone on stage and off. Thank you for sharing this work!” - Carmelle, W.H.o.S. audience member 2019
