Stephanie Ridings
The Road to Huntsville
Presented by The Lowry + Word of Warning as part of WTF
In Brief
Women who marry men on death row: unconventional love, state homicide and challenging preconceptions – trying to understand… trying not to judge…
See her trailer.
Now that it’s over, read reviews by Live Art Alive + The Reviews Hub.
Venue + Booking Details
Date: Wednesday 17 May 2017, 8pm
Venue: The Lowry (Aldridge Studio), Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Tickets: available to reserve from Fri 21 Apr + Pay What You Decide on the evening. Please note the WTF Wednesday ticketing policy below.
Box Office Tel: 0843 208 6000
Access Information
Age advisory: 16+ (parental/guardian discretion). With no interval, the show lasts approximately 1 hour. For specific age + access information please email info@habmcr.org or call 0161 232 6086.
More
“I’m trying to understand why British women fall in love with men on death row. I’m corresponding with Jonny, incarcerated in Texas. I’m trying to understand the death penalty and how that fits into our 21st century world. I’m trying not to be judgemental.”
Challenging preconceptions, The Road to Huntsville is an exploration into unconventional love, state homicide, and cats.
“The idea came about after watching a documentary about death row, which featured pen pals who become friends and potentially wives. I found it difficult – firstly to come to terms with how those men and women live their lives knowing the state will put them to death. I couldn’t begin to contemplate how it must feel to count the days you have left on this earth, stomach your last meal, and have the warden tell you, ‘it’s time’, before walking to the gurney where you will breathe your last breath. And secondly – who are the people who seek out love with those who have committed such terrible crimes that the state sees the only fitting punishment is death?
“Texas executes the most prisoners and has some of the harshest conditions. Death row, where the inmates are housed, is in Livingston, whereas the death chamber is 45 miles away in Huntsville, a small city with a population of just under 40,000, 25% of which are behind bars. The prison, nicknamed the ‘Walls’ Unit, is the oldest state prison in Texas and is also home to the USA’s busiest execution chamber.
“I don’t want you to think for a minute I underestimate the crimes that lead the inmates to death row or the victims and their families they devastate with their actions. I am more than aware this is a very emotive subject area, one which many people have very strong opinions about. While the death penalty in the UK was abolished in 1964 the subject of capital punishment continues to be important, with the British Government committed to campaigning against the death penalty internationally. Ongoing discussion on the state’s right to commit murder is one of fundamental human rights, and has resonance and relevance to audiences in countries with and without the death penalty.”
Who is she?
Stephanie Ridings is a writer and performer. Her most recent work, Unknown Male, opened at Birmingham REP to critical acclaim and was awarded the 2014 Peter Brook / Mark Marvin Award. In March 2016 she created Dylan’s Parents for Live Lunch at the Royal Court.
What people have said about The Road…
★★★★★ Amazing
Arts Award Voice (also won Pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2016)
★★★★ Beautiful storyteller
Across the Arts
★★★★ Chilling
Ed Fest Magazine
★★★★ Fascinating
The Reviews Hub
Credits
Written + performed by Stephanie Ridings.
Directed by Jonathan V McGrath.
Produced by Pippa Frith.
A Bite Size Commission for China Plate, mac birmingham + Warwick Arts Centre.
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and by The Sir Barry Jackson Trust, The Peggy Ramsay Foundation + Birmingham REP.
Websites
theroadtohuntsville.com | @Stephaniser | #TheRoadtoHuntsville
WTF Wednesday ticketing policy at The Lowry
We do our best to get the numbers right, but unfortunately we occasionally have to disappoint people so please arrive early. However, where possible, if you do miss out we will try to get you in to another show at The Lowry that evening. Please note that as not everyone who reserves tickets uses them, to make sure we have a full house we send out more tickets than there are places. We do our best to get the numbers right, but unfortunately we occasionally have to disappoint people so please arrive early. However, where possible, if you do miss out we will try to get you in to another show at The Lowry that evening.