A new theatre production opening this week at the University of Waterloo addresses mental health and the troubling story of Ashley Smith
A new theatre production opening this week at the University of Waterloo addresses mental health and the troubling story of Ashley Smith, the teenager who died from self-asphyxiation at Kitchener’s Grand Valley Institution for Women in 2007.
From Solitary to Solidarity: Unravelling the Ligatures of Ashley Smith is a multi-media production that runs March 19 to 22.
Professor Andrew Houston, from the Faculty of Arts at Waterloo, directed the show, which developed over two years through drama course assignments. It features 13 student actors, with no one in the role of Ashley Smith. Instead, the performance is presented in a style called auto-ethnographic, in which actors deliver first-person narratives that relate to the larger public narrative – in this case, the life and death of Ashley Smith.
The 19-year-old’s death in view of prison guards exposed alarming issues in Canada’s correctional system, particularly neglect of those suffering from mental illness. The problems were underscored in December 2013 when an inquest concluded that Ashley Smith’s death was a homicide.
“This incredibly sad case resonates on several levels,” said Professor Houston. “Over the years that I’ve taught university, I’ve seen an increasing number of students suffering from mental health issues. Public institutions are grappling with these issues, and I think that is worth examining.”
The performance is accompanied by an exhibition of the students’ research called Small Acts of Repair Toward Mental Health, as well as a symposium with invited experts, including the director of counselling services at Waterloo.
“I try to make research assignments relevant and challenging by focusing on a subject that is current, usually local, and difficult to understand,” said Professor Houston. The research resulted in a script written by Melanie Bennett, a former Waterloo student who is now completing a PhD.
The student actors parse a story of unimaginable isolation and illness with the goal to increase awareness and incite action for mental health within institutions.
“Theatre addresses difficult issues in a unique way,” said Professor Houston. “When the performers are actually present and show themselves as people—not just characters—who are wrestling with the subject matter, then the audience is bearing witness to an event; the audience can play an active role as they respond to the struggles presented on the stage.”
Information about the performance and tickets are available on the Faculty of Arts website.
