Viva Brighton Issue #58 December 2017

PERFORMANCE
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Road to Huntsville
Dead man S.W.A.L.K.I.N.G.
Stephanie Ridings’
play The Road to
Huntsville examines
the unexpected romantic
entanglements
between death row
inmates in Texas and
their correspondents
on the outside.
I’m fascinated with
prison documentaries,
specifically
in America, where
women write to men on death row. It’s hard to
understand what’s in it for everyone – what they’re
getting – or think they’re getting – out of it. For
the person who’s incarcerated, it’s a lifeline to
the outside world. But when it tips over into the
romantic stuff – when the couple gets married, but
they’re never going to see or touch each other – I
just didn’t understand what that love was. The Road
to Huntsville explores a version of me – a writer
doing research on these relationships – who gets
in a bit too deep. It’s concentrated on prisons
in Livingston and Huntsville in Texas, as they
generally execute the most people per year. Here,
all visits are done through bulletproof glass – with
no physical contact.
It’s easy to be judgmental and say the women
are damaged and the men inside are just out
for money. But you can’t just write them off as
spinster cat ladies; it’s so much more complicated
than that. They’re from all walks of life, from all
social backgrounds, sometimes they’re even married.
Some just write to be a friend – or write to
women – and it doesn’t always become romantic.
Sometimes, though, the women are damaged and
this is a safe relationship for them; they can turn
this man into a fantasy because he’s not at home
leaving his underwear
lying about or not
washing the dishes
– he’s a mythical
creature.
The clandestine nature
of the romance
definitely plays a
part in its appeal
and letter-writing
makes it feel like a
proper old-fashioned
courtship. There’s also
the feeling of being in love, with this insurmountable
thing between you, keeping you from being
together. All of this heightens the relationship.
Putting myself into Texan culture was really
important in creating The Road to Huntsville,
because that world is just so foreign to me.
The team and I stood outside with protesters to
see how the town reacts when there’s an execution
on; we weren’t welcome at all! Most people don’t
even realise it’s happening – they just drive past,
like it’s a normal day. That part of Texas is quite
right wing; many are pro capital punishment.
With the death penalty, there don’t seem to
be any winners; the government say they do it
to give the victims’ families closure, but from
what I’ve seen and read, nobody gets much out of
the situation.
I’m currently researching a show we’re calling
The Fear of Fear – looking at the use of fear
to control and manipulate people for personal
gain. You know, like the President! To challenge
my own fears, I went caving. I was against it from
the start, so, as a writer, I was like, ‘I think we’re
going to have to do it’. It was horrific!
As told to Amy Holtz
The Marlborough, 6th December, 7.30pm
Photo by Graeme Braidwood
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