RobyLane Kelley
Editorial Assistant

The Kansas City debut of “GULAG GIRLS” takes the stage at The Arts Asylum ( 824 E. Meyer Blvd.), for five nights during  KC Fringe  Festival, beginning July 20.

This “work in progress” one-act, written by Shea Ketchum, first came to mind during the Kansas City playwright’s 2018 visit to Poland. What began as a journey to learn more about her family heritage — who immigrated from the country— allowed her to discover the full scope of a women’s Soviet Union prison. 

“In one of my museum tours, there was a video of women in their 70’s, and they were talking about their time being imprisoned by the secret police. They were talking about this female guard who had psychologically tortured them and at one point they brought them all back into a prison cell,” said Ketchum. “They brought in that female guard and I thought that was so interesting because of the interactions and they said, ‘Do you know what you did to us?’ ‘It was a nightmare.’ ‘How could you be so cruel?’ and I wanted to know that story more.”

Ketchum began her research for this show following her trip to create a way to inform community members about the Gulags. A Gulag was a form of Soviet Union labor camp used from 1930 to 1950. Many prisoners died while living and working in these harsh conditions. Her theatre medium meant she would play multiple roles in this production of great importance. Ketchum is both its playwright and dramaturg — a person who conducts historical research for a show to assist in writing and often design.

 She plotted most of its character storylines during the Covid-19 pandemic. Meant to educate and entertain its audience, “GULAG GIRLS” will contain topics based on true accounts. A content warning is provided for audiences with  “adult language, violence, sexual assault and gunshots.”

Ketchum says since she told someone this show would be done “this year” it was her motivation to get the show written. She finished the first act in time for the 2023 stage reading program with KC Public Theatre. The In-Progress program was held in Northeast’s PH Coffee, which Ketchum says has supported the project.

“There was a really strong response to it. People really seemed interested and engaged,” said Ketchum. “The next step for my progression of this piece was to produce a more fully formed production, rather than a staged reading.”

This play, which is a collaboration for Kansas Citians by Kansas City local theatre professionals, “GULAG GIRLS” gave its playwright a way to exhibit “Art with Heart” to allow its cast, crew and patrons to give back.

The show’s mostly female cast, fills a “need” Ketchum saw in the Kansas City theatre community for more female acting roles. Outside  the Metro, this show is accepting donations for World Central Kitchen (WCK) — a nonprofit, which aims to provide meals “in response to humanitarian crises.”

“I’m hoping Kansas City will come,” said Ketchum. “They might laugh, they might cry a bit, they might learn a bit more about this topic. Maybe that will trigger their own kind of research.”

Those interested in this topic can visit the Kansas City Public Library catalog and find books with the keyword “Gulag” to begin their research.

This show will run 4:30 p.m., July 20,  9 p.m., July 21 and 24, 6 p.m., July 26 and 7:30 p.m., July 27. Tickets are available for purchase online priced $15 for adults and $8 for children. There is an additional fee for online ticket purchases.

Get your tickets at https://kcfringe.org/2024-shows/gulag-girls/.