A Night of Storytelling: Decarceration and Recovery

Friday, Nov. 7

Doors open at 7pm. Event starts at 7:15pm.

Sensitivity Warning: The performance discusses mature topics and includes adult language that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Join us for an enriching evening of social justice storytelling presented by Freedom & Captivity and Points North Institute!

I. It’s Hard to Talk About: Stories of Incarceration in Maine

A performance of true stories from the state’s first archive dedicated to the experiences, insights, and knowledge of Maine’s incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community members.

Presented by the Freedom & Captivity Initiative, It’s Hard to Talk About… features five justice-impacted cast members sharing narratives that bridge the gap between those on the “inside” and “outside” and challenge oversimplified public narratives about crime and punishment by highlighting paths of transformation and growth.

II. Recovery in Maine: Wabanaki Voices

Community, song, language, and tradition act as powerful forms of healing in this short film that centers Wabanaki approaches to recovery in Maine. This film is the seventh installment in the Recovery in Maine series from Points North Institute.

The FREE event includes one 45-minute theater performance and one 15-minute short film, followed by a 30-minute Q&A and community conversation.

Freedom & Captivity, a collaborative public humanities initiative, has announced an upcoming tour of its latest storytelling project, It’s Hard to Talk About: Stories of Incarceration in Maine. The performance chronicles the stories of Mainers impacted by the state’s criminal legal system and will be presented at eight locations across the state this fall.
Awarded an ACLS Digital Justice Grant last year, It’s Hard to Talk About… features a cast of five justice-impacted individuals who will share stories from currently and previously incarcerated individuals, their friends and families, and other people impacted by incarceration. The performance seeks to bridge the gap between those on the “inside” and “outside,” challenging public narratives about crime and punishment by highlighting paths of transformation and growth. Each performance is free to attend and followed by a 30-minute Q&A and community conversation.
Samuel James, a writer, musician, and podcaster whose work often explores themes of history, culture, and social justice, consulted on the project. He shared: “It’s been an incredible honor to witness the creation of such a consequential work. Wherever audiences experience this performance, they will leave having found where courage meets reality, humor meets honesty and vulnerability meets hope.” Linda Small, a cast member and part of the curation team, emphasized how the work balances empathy with urgency. “Now more than ever, storytelling is a form of public humanities activism and shifts the conversation from punishment toward abolition, healing, and accountability,” she said.

For more information, visit https://www.freedom-captivity.org/performance