History of Weyburn Mental Hospital the focus of new play

The Saskatchewan Hospital, as it was known as, officially opened on Dec. 29, 1921. The facility was considered on the cutting edge of experimental treatments for people with mental health issues and had a reputation of leading the way in therapeutic programming. (Source: Saskatchewan Archives)

Audience members at the Mackenzie Art Gallery got a sneak peek of a new play exploring Saskatchewan medical history.

“Weyburn 1959” is a new play currently under development. It tells the story of the Weyburn Mental Hospital and the use of LSD as a treatment for mental illness.

Writer Arthur Milner told CTV News that plenty of research went into the creation of the play. He was intrigued by the size of the hospital and the large scale of the operation at its peak.

“A 2,500 bed hospital. Everybody worked there, knew somebody who worked there, or knew somebody that was a patient. It was very much a part of that community,” said Milner.

Mark Claxton is an actor performing in Weyburn 1959. He said the play is a unique opportunity for the public to learn some local history.

“We have many of these well-kept secrets about a time and a place in Saskatchewan where people were doing really innovated, world changing stuff,” said Claxton.

“It gives us a richer perspective on the history of the province,” he added.

A live reading on Jan. 19th marked the second time Weyburn 1959 had been read to the public.

Carla Harris attended the reading and was enthusiastic about the retelling of what doctors were thinking over 60 years ago.

“This kind of exploration of the story is going to give people a better concept of what the goals and purpose was,” she said.

Weyburn 1959 is directed by Jonathan Seinen.