A Life Sentence 2024 Tour

WHO:

After a successful world premiere in Vancouver Fringe 2023, the team behind A Life Sentence formed Why Now Theatre Collective to continue bringing A Life Sentence to more audiences. Based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, our mission is to create innovative, poignant and critical conversations through theatre.

A Life Sentence was originally produced at Studio 58 as a part of Fourplay 2020: New Work By Excited Writers, but was cancelled just before opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It subsequently had its world premiere in Vancouver Fringe 2023 with an entire cast and crew of Studio 58 graduates, and is gearing up for 2024 runs at the rEvolver Festival in Vancouver in May, and Edmonton Fringe in August.

Logan Fenske, Jarred Stephen Meek & Alina Blackett

WHY:

From Playwright & Co-Director Jarred Stephen Meek:

I believe this project is important, as, speaking for myself, the amount of understanding that I gained for my mother and her experience, and how her childhood shaped the kind of person and mother she is, is insurmountable. There very well could be victims, survivors, and even abusers in the audience. If one person, whether that be a young person, or someone who may have sat with their experiences for decades, feels that this play takes a little weight off their shoulders, makes them feel seen, or ultimately inspires them to relieve themselves of anything they've been holding onto, or begin their own journey of healing, that is the goal.

This piece allows insight into the mind of an abuser, citing real life transcripts, while also showing the deep, lifelong effects it has on the victim and their friends and family, plus the struggle to regain their own power. One of the lines in the script that is directly verbatim from the interview in 1989, John says "...the way things are going right now, you know, I mean, I watch Oprah Winfrey, and Donahue, and the news and, uh, read the newspaper and uh, it is certainly the thing to do right now, there's no question about it." There was no question that this story needed to be written and told. Alina Blackett, who plays Gwen, put it best: “This show is quite simply the answer to the question ‘Why make art?’”

See Alina, Logan, Jimmy and David (Mikey/Van De Beek, Fringe 2023) discuss the importance of this piece here:

THE GOAL:

Our fundraising goal is $5,000. This will help cover many expenses for both productions, including and not limited to:

Any size of donation counts and is greatly appreciated! You can also help in other ways by sharing the link to the gofundme, and supporting us on social media at @whynowtheatre and visiting our website!

THE TEAM:

Vancouver (Edmonton TBC):

Jarred Stephen Meek- Playwright, Producer, Co-Director, JOEY/MR. MILLER

Jessie Liang- Co-Director

Alina Blackett- Producer, GWEN

Logan Fenske- JOHN

Stephanie Elgersma- BETTY

Sabrina Banks- PATRICIA

Tristen Bonwick-Foy- MIKEY/ L.L. VAN DE BEEK

Jimmy JinPyo Hong- PETER/BENJAMIN

Sofie Kane- LISA

Emily Case- Stage Manager

SYNOPSIS:

Grappling with the trauma of childhood abuse and the pressure of a life changing investigation, Gwen risks everything for the possibility of justice. Spanning 3 decades from the 70s through the 90s, and yet resonant in the wake of #MeToo, A Life Sentence is a British Columbian story of real lived experiences and verbatim transcripts.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Read a Q&A with playwright Jarred Stephen Meek and Stir Vancouver here!

“…a vibrantly navigated story of darkness… an uncomfortable watch, but a necessary one.” -Stir Vancouver

“…an incredibly moving experience… It had my blood pumping and my eyes tearing up throughout. The performances coupled with the skillful direction of such a delicate subject matter blew me away.” -Vancouver Fringe Patron, Canadian Fringe Reviews

“Deeply moving play, skillfully crafted like an intricate jigsaw…”-Vancouver Fringe Patron, Canadian Fringe Reviews

Photos by Patrick Conaty