Theatre company William Head on Stage (WHoS) is celebrating 35 years of prison theatre this fall with five weeks of performances kicking off tomorrow (Oct. 7) in Metchosin.
Co-produced by WHoS and SNAFU Dance Theatre, the inmates at William Head Institute will perform Sleeping Giants, a play about what happens when the world stops dreaming. The tale follows five humans and a family of dream spirits, who act as guides through the subconscious landscape.
B次元官网网址淭he team works really, really hard on making this a unique experience,B次元官网网址� said Ingrid Hansen, a co-founder and co-artistic director with SNAFU.
B次元官网网址淚nstead of choosing a script or play B次元官网网址� in the last five or so years WHoS has done a lot of work creating its own show.B次元官网网址� Through writing and improv exercises, inmates began to craft something that is their own. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all done in house,B次元官网网址� she said.
The team started with A Midsummer NightB次元官网网址檚 Dream and Rip Van Winkle as a B次元官网网址渏umping off point and since then have created their own universe,B次元官网网址� Hansen said, adding the show is very unique.
B次元官网网址淭his year we have all the design also being done by the men at William Head Prison. ItB次元官网网址檚 a huge production,B次元官网网址� she said, estimating roughly half of the prison population is contributing to the performances in some capacity.
Everything from crafting costumes, installing lighting and developing sets is being done by inmates. Even an inmate band, which includes two musicians playing along with some electronic music mixing, is working on a score for the production. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge amount of work that goes on B次元官网网址� (But) itB次元官网网址檚 a whole other level from last yearB次元官网网址檚 production,B次元官网网址� Hansen said.
While the show opens to the public on Friday, the opening performance for the company is in front of the rest of the prison population, staff and volunteers. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a very special performance,B次元官网网址� Hansen said.
While many inmates get involved with WHoS as B次元官网网址渁n opportunity to be part of a project that gives something back,B次元官网网址� she said, it also gives inmates a chance to be something other than just an inmate, even if only for a few hours. B次元官网网址淵ou get to witness a huge change. Often people come into the first meeting and speak very quietly and donB次元官网网址檛 make eye contact. Several weeks in, sometimes I donB次元官网网址檛 even recognize people B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e very engaged and confident.B次元官网网址�
The process of taking an idea and turning it into a performance also holds many key lessons for those involved, Hansen added.
B次元官网网址淭he teamwork aspect is probably the biggest part of it B次元官网网址� you have to work together to make the play come to life.B次元官网网址� That means making compromising, negotiating and putting aside differences to get a show to come to fruition. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really challenging project.B次元官网网址�
Hansen noted that director Kathleen Greenfield, also a SNAFU co-artistic director, has done a spectacular job of getting the men involved and making sure their talents and gifts are utilized. That includes working many different cultures and interests into the script.
B次元官网网址淭he final weekends always sell out,B次元官网网址� Hansen said, recommending that audience members get their tickets early. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e already sold a ton of tickets and we havenB次元官网网址檛 gotten to opening night B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 something you need to plan ahead.B次元官网网址�
The gates to William Head open at 6:15 p.m. and close promptly at 7:15, with absolutely no late comers granted entrance. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with performances running on Oct. 7- 8, 14-15, 21-22, 27-28-29 and Nov. 3 to 5.
Tickets are $20, available online at ticketrocket.com and at the Metchosin Country Store (cash only), 4384 Metchosin Rd. All tickets must be purchased in advance and 10 per cent of the proceeds will be go to the Help Fill a Dream Foundation.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
