Staging Prison Theatre in Canada: Setting the Spotlight on William Head on Stage

For 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.

Thana Ridha (Author)
Thana Ridha obtained her Master of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa where she conducted original research on prison theatre in Canada. Her SSHRC funded research and prize nominated thesis represents the first Criminological examination of Canada’s long-standing prison theatre, William Head on Stage. Thana’s primary research focus is on the use of arts-based initiatives within prison and correctional settings. Alongside this interest, Thana has conducted a range of criminological and correctional research, while also having participated in various presentations and international conferences. Through her role as a researcher with the Correctional Service of Canada, Thana conducted a range of research projects on correctional interventions, operations, and Indigenous-centered approaches. Notably, Thana led a research project examining the experiences of incarcerated men at Indigenous Healing Lodges. Thana is currently a Senior Program Officer at the National Headquarters of Correctional Service of Canada where she oversees projects and initiatives related to correctional program. She is also an Instructor at the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University where she teaches courses on research methods as well as seminars related to the criminal justice system.

Sylvie Frigon (Author)
Sylvie Frigon holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge, UK. She is professor of the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa where she teaches since 1993. She is Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Social Science. She was Joint Chair of the Women’s Studies at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University from 2014-2016 and was Visiting Fellow at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, UK in 2014 where she currently is Senior Research Associate. She has published several scientific articles, chapters and books. Her book on dance, the body and imprisonment with Claire Jenny, choreographer and director of the Parisian dance company ＂ Point Virgule ＂ was published in 2009. Professor Frigon collaborated with the AAOF (Association des auteures et auteurs de l’Ontario français) as artistic director of a writing project in prison. A book from these writing workshops has been published in 2014. She published her 3rd novel in 2016 funded by the Ontario Arts Council, C’est où chez nous? which was finalist for the Prix Espiègle 2017. In 2018 she was consultant for the Royal New Zealand Ballet and this partnership will continue. She is working on a new dance project in prison with men with Paris-based choreographer, Claire Jenny. Her latest publication is an edited book entitled Dance, Confinement and Resilient Bodies (UOP) in 2019.