Thana, RidhaSylvie, Frigon2025-04-012025-04-012025-04-019780776644936https://press.uottawa.ca/en/9780776644905/staging-prison-theatre-in-canada/http://hdl.handle.net/10393/50316For over forty years, William Head on Stage (WHoS) has operated as an inmate-run prison theatre, making it one of Canada’s longest-standing prison arts initiatives. Staging Prison Theatre in Canada: Setting the Spotlight on William Head on Stage delves into the story of WHoS through the voices of the men involved, offering a unique criminological perspective that situates their experiences within the prison context. The analysis explores how WHoS creates an alternative space within the social and emotional realities of incarceration. By unlocking participants’ capacities, skills, and confidence, the initiative fosters a sense of agency and community both inside the prison and beyond. WHoS becomes a space for transformation, offering men opportunities to re-imagine themselves and build meaningful connections. This work underscores the broader significance of arts-based initiatives like WHoS, not only within prisons but also in the fields of criminology, theatre, and community engagement. It offers valuable insights for correctional administrators, criminologists, theatre practitioners, scholars, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of art and rehabilitation.List of Figures List of Tables Foreword Acknowledgements CHAPTER 1 The Opening Script 1.1. Narrating the WHoS Story 1.2. Narrating the Experiences with WHoS 1.3. Positionality 1.4. Organization of the Book CHAPTER 2 Setting the Stage 2.1. Approaches to Prison Theatre 2.2. Grounding our Work CHAPTER 3 Freedom from Within 3.1. Escaping the Venue 3.2. Breaking the Scene CHAPTER 4 The Ensemble 4.1. Connecting Inside 4.2. Community Connection 4.3. Connecting Outside CHAPTER 5 Character Development CHAPTER 6 Revising the Script 6.1. Changing the Monologue 6.2. Performing Agency CHAPTER 7 Curtain Call Appendix A: Literature Review Appendix B: WHoS Productions Appendix C: Methodological Considerations ReferencesenAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Prison TheatreSocial Impact of TheatreWilliam Head on StageInmate Arts ProgramsRehabilitation through ArtsCanadian Prison ArtsCriminology and TheatreArts-Based InitiativesPrison RehabilitationTheatre in IncarcerationCommunity Engagement in PrisonsTransformative JusticeBook