Tarragon Theatre is excited to announce the World Premiere of Guarded Girls, a new work by Governor General’s Literary Award nominee Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman. Guarded Girls runs in Tarragon’s Mainspace March 26 - May 6, 2019 (opening April 3).

The psychological destruction brought on by solitary confinement is at the heart of this wrenching and powerful new play. When 19-year-old Sid is transferred to a new prison, she finds friendship with Britt — but also forms a complicated relationship with the guard who seems to be watching their every move. Soon, it’s the guard who’s being watched, and this playful, theatrical, mysterious work heads toward its shocking conclusion.

In this commentary on the prison system, Corbeil-Coleman investigates the impact of prison time on an individual’s mind. But Guarded Girls also offers a character study of the impact the prison system has more broadly and across generations. How are daughters affected by their mothers' prison sentences? What reverberations on daughters do we see from those who have mothers working in the prison system?

Tension builds in this beautiful, unnerving, poignant work, as Guarded Girls unravels a puzzle of interconnected relationships and the butterfly effect of the prison experience across various women’s relationships to each other, themselves and the powers that hold them.

“We are excited for Tarragon audiences to experience the world premiere of Guarded Girls,” notes Tarragon’s Artistic Director Richard Rose. “Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman has written an enticing and thought-provoking social commentary.”  

Guarded Girls features Columpa Bobb (Native Earth’s Sixty Below, FireHall Arts Centre’s Ecstasy of Rita Joe), Vivien Endicott-Douglas (Tarragon’s The Circle, Tarragon’s Hush, Shakespeare in the Ruff’s Romeo and Juliet), Virgilia Griffith (Tarragon’s Harlem Duet, Soulpepper’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Crow’s Theatre’s The Wedding Party) and Michaela Washburn (De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group’s The Dreaming Beauty, APTN/Bravo!’s Rez Blues TV). Guarded Girls is written by Governor General’s Literary Award nominee Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman, with direction by Richard Rose. 

After its World Premiere at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto,Guarded Girls is presented by Green Light Arts at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener.

Guarded Girls runs in Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace from March 26 - May 6, 2019, opening officially Wednesday, April 3.  
 

Guarded Girls (World Premiere)
Mainspace
In association with Green Light Arts
Written by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman
Directed by Richard Rose
March 26 - May 6, 2019 (opening April 3)

A new play from Governor General’s Literary Award nominee.

The psychological destruction brought on by solitary confinement is at the heart of this wrenching and powerful new play. When 19-year-old Sid is transferred to a new prison, she finds friendship with Britt — but also forms a complicated relationship with the guard who seems to be watching their every move. Soon, it’s the guard who’s being watched, and this playful, theatrical, mysterious work heads toward its shocking conclusion.

After Toronto performances, Guarded Girls is presented by Green Light Arts at the Registry Theatre, Kitchener.

CAST + CREW
written by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman
directed by Richard Rose
lighting designer André du Toit
sound designer Thomas Ryder Payne
set and costume designer Joanna Yu
stage manager Natasha Bean-Smith
starring Columpa Bobb (“Guard”), Vivien Endicott-Douglas (“Sid”, “Correctional Officer 1”, “Girl 1”), Virgilia Griffith (“Brit”, “Correctional Officer 2”, “Girl 3”) & Michaela Washburn (“Kit”, “Girl 2”)

Showtimes are Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, and select Saturdays at 2:30pm.

Tickets range from $22 - $60 and can be purchased online at www.tarragontheatre.com, or by phone at 416-531-1827. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups and arts workers. Patrons under 35 & arts workers visit www.tarragontheatre.com.

Tarragon offers the most flexible subscription packages in the city with savings of up to 40%, allowing patrons to choose their productions, change their dates free of charge, and offering many different price points to suit all schedules and budgets. Visit the website or call Patron Services today for more information.

Rush tickets are sold for $20 cash only, in person at the theatre two hours before showtime. This year Tarragon will also be offering online rush tickets at varying discounts, 24h prior to the show. Both Rush ticket options are subject to availability.

For more information on Tarragon’s events and activities, visit www.tarragontheatre.com.

Photo: Tamara Podemski, Michaela Washburn, Vivien Endicott-Douglas and Virgilia Griffith. © 2018 Jim Ryce.