You Should Have Stayed Home

You Should Have Stayed Home

by Tommy Taylor & Michael Wheeler

An auto-biographical re-telling of the frightening events that took place on the streets of Toronto during the 2010 G20 summit protests, which saw the largest mass arrest in Canadian history and resulted in a $14.6M class action lawsuit.

We join Tommy Taylor as he recounts his journey attending his first ever protest in the “Free Speech Zone” at Queen’s Park before being swept up in a mass arrest and detained at the Eastern Avenue Detention Centre.

Originally a stage play that toured Canada in 2012, Directed by Michael Wheeler and performed by actor and playwright Tommy Taylor, the play presents a virtual adaptation of Tommy’s original Facebook note, How I Got Arrested and Abused at the G20 in Toronto, which has been translated into seven languages and appeared in twenty-one countries. Today, Tommy’s story takes on urgent new meaning in the context of the ever-rising tensions and public dialogue on police violence, protest, and institutional reform.

Content Warnings

Images of police brutality and physical violence

Descriptions of physical and emotional abuse

Homophobic remarks

Sexist remarks

References to ableist remarks

References to racial profiling

Temporary use of colourful flashing lights

Temporary exposure to confined spaces

Possibility of experiencing VR motion sickness

Credits

Playwright and Performer: Tommy Taylor

Director: Michael Wheeler

Dramaturg: Laura Levin

Assistant Dramaturg and Research Assistant: Jayna Mees

Stage and Production Manager: Justine Katarenchuk

Associate Producer and VR Chat Cinematographer (IRL Presentation): Anna Villeneuve

VR Theatre Consultant / Virtual Lighting Designer: Beth Kates

Virtual Sound Designer: David Mesiha

Lead VR Developer: Seyed Tabatabaei

UDON Developer: Anthony Aloisio

Avatar Designer: Rea Goldson

Student Developer: Flora Diep, Michaelah Wales, Zarrin Tasnim

You Should Have Stayed Home acknowledges support from the Ontario Arts Council Recommender Grant for Theatre Creators by way of Volcano Theatre