Artistic Director's Note: Lori Pitts
Ally Theatre Company strives to be at the forefront of re-envisioning the process of how theatre is created, who is involved, and whose stories are told. Since taking over as Artistic Director in 2022 and bringing Voices Unbarred programming under Ally Theatre’s umbrella, we have been figuring out how professional productions and our advocacy work with people impacted by incarceration would fit together. I am thrilled to share the new vision with you all through this first production, Cradle and All....
Ally Theatre will serve as a hub to develop new work in collaboration with artists interested in social justice and using Applied Theatre to create, activists, and people impacted by systems of oppression. These plays will zoom out to show the larger context of incarceration and how it can have a rippling impact beyond the prison walls. We also want to engage audiences beyond sitting and watching a play. We will offer interactive workshops that explore the plays’ themes and offer audiences a peek into how the plays are developed, community partnership events, and post-show community discussions.
It was with this vision that we started devising Cradle and All... with a group of artists, activists, and Voices Unbarred Community Advocates, who are all formerly incarcerated, in August 2023. Director and playwright, Sisi Reid, shaped the script from those session explorations and interviews, weaving in researched storylines over the fall. As of January, the team, joined by a few new artists, have been continuing to build and refine the first iteration of this production. Now, we invite you to be part of its evolution—your feedback and input are crucial. Following each performance, I invite you to join me in verbal reflection, as well as to fill out a brief written survey about the show.
Thank you for embarking on this journey with us as we reshape the role of theatre in society, pioneer a new approach, and expand the range of stories told. May this work bring you joy, a sense of play, healing, and inspiration.
Ally Theatre will serve as a hub to develop new work in collaboration with artists interested in social justice and using Applied Theatre to create, activists, and people impacted by systems of oppression. These plays will zoom out to show the larger context of incarceration and how it can have a rippling impact beyond the prison walls. We also want to engage audiences beyond sitting and watching a play. We will offer interactive workshops that explore the plays’ themes and offer audiences a peek into how the plays are developed, community partnership events, and post-show community discussions.
It was with this vision that we started devising Cradle and All... with a group of artists, activists, and Voices Unbarred Community Advocates, who are all formerly incarcerated, in August 2023. Director and playwright, Sisi Reid, shaped the script from those session explorations and interviews, weaving in researched storylines over the fall. As of January, the team, joined by a few new artists, have been continuing to build and refine the first iteration of this production. Now, we invite you to be part of its evolution—your feedback and input are crucial. Following each performance, I invite you to join me in verbal reflection, as well as to fill out a brief written survey about the show.
Thank you for embarking on this journey with us as we reshape the role of theatre in society, pioneer a new approach, and expand the range of stories told. May this work bring you joy, a sense of play, healing, and inspiration.
Our Timeline
August 2023 | We began devising rehearsals under the guidance of Sisi Reid (Soul Shine Theater Garden) for two weeks. We used Theatre of the Oppressed techniques, improv, interviews with people impacted by incarceration, open-ended writing, and discussion to develop themes and ideas for the play and worked alongside activists, professional artists, and our Community Advocates.
September 2023 | Sisi took the ideas that we developed and transferred them into a working script framework.
January 8, 2024 | We came back together for a devising residency, where some new artists joined us, as well as some of the original artists from the August devising process. Sisi and the actors used improv to fill in some of the scenes, led by Tavish of Bird City Improv, to finalize the script.
January 16, 2024 | We began pulling together blocking and production elements for the show. Charles Franklin IV was incredibly helpful at this stage as our Assistant Director.
February 4, 2024 | In connection to the play and in order to aid our process, we offered an interactive workshop for audiences to engage with the themes of the play.
February 8, 2024 | Opening Night! Throughout the production run, we have had audience feedback sessions and written surveys to help us develop the play for the future. We're so excited to see where it goes next!
September 2023 | Sisi took the ideas that we developed and transferred them into a working script framework.
January 8, 2024 | We came back together for a devising residency, where some new artists joined us, as well as some of the original artists from the August devising process. Sisi and the actors used improv to fill in some of the scenes, led by Tavish of Bird City Improv, to finalize the script.
January 16, 2024 | We began pulling together blocking and production elements for the show. Charles Franklin IV was incredibly helpful at this stage as our Assistant Director.
February 4, 2024 | In connection to the play and in order to aid our process, we offered an interactive workshop for audiences to engage with the themes of the play.
February 8, 2024 | Opening Night! Throughout the production run, we have had audience feedback sessions and written surveys to help us develop the play for the future. We're so excited to see where it goes next!