Inside Out: Men Behind Bars is a unique and profoundly moving project that brings audiences inside the Bureau of Federal Prisons in Tucson and the world of the incarcerated men who live there. This play, now playing at The Invisible Theatre and directed by Betsy Kruse Craig, is a masterpiece. The project, with collaboration with Dr. Linda Green (U of A Professor of Anthropology) is based on original writings by incarcerated students at the Bureau of Federal Prisons in Tucson. Their words echoed throughout the intimate IT space and left a chill and a warmth in the air that moved me to tears.
This is by far the most impactful and important theatrical piece I have seen in Tucson. It is essential that we hear the words of people who have no voice, who have faded from our society and been forgotten. Inside Out gives these talented incarcerated students the opportunity to be heard, to create, and to leave their mark on the world through life-changing art. I was impressed with their writing, and it is clear that there was a great deal of work and vulnerability that went into this project. Truly, this is a unique piece of theatre that transcends mere performance; it is a glimpse into the human soul.
Craig’s staging was intentional and varied, giving the actors ample opportunity to move, tell their stories, and get up close and personal to the audience. Inside Out is best described as a series of monologues and vignettes, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much interaction there was between the actors. Some of the scenes were hard to watch, but that is the point. In particular, Jonathan Heras portrays a man talking to his child as the prison goes into lockdown. The call abruptly ends amid the screaming noise and flashing lights. The uncertainty that his family likely felt and the anxiety of the entire situation left a pit in my stomach…