Culture And Memory

Geordie Gaol Girls

To commemorate the 100th year since the closure of the Newcastle Gaol, Workie Ticket Theatre aims to tell the forgotten narratives of female prisoners and staff. Through community workshops, we'll create an immersive theatre experience staged at the original site, highlighting their "HERstories" which will be guided by historical research. Collaborating with diverse groups of local women, we'll craft authentic costumes, produce prison ‘mugshots,’ and co-create a community play and exhibition. Our aim is to archive this work for future accessibility, preserving and ensuring the resonance of these stories. Despite the Gaol closing in 1925, this project will ensure that the unheard voices of confined women and those affected by abuse are remembered. Overall, it has the potential to leave a lasting legacy by shedding light on forgotten stories and reflecting on issues of gender inequality.