What is Life Without a Dream?

Diary Entry by LSW Guest, Lynn Farleigh
on the occasion of her LSW Prison Project Debut
3rd July 2001, HMP Bullingdon

July 5th 2001

Dear Bruce

Thank you so much for asking me to take part in your work - I am still rather inarticulate about the experience - I hear myself sounding so smug & middle class & "lovey".  Anyway, I've written this:-

At the end of our session in Bullingdon Prison Bruce said "They may take your clothes from you but they can't take your dreams."  Dreams and dreaming were the theme of our afternoon.

It was my first experience of the LSW Prison Project work.  I was expecting to come away angry, sad and depressed.   Yes - I felt all that but much more.  I felt so grateful that I had been allowed to share the laughter, the energy, the concentration, the hope and the work of eveyone there.  I have never believed that prison was purely for punishment or for the protection of those of us outside.  It must give help, hope and 'building bricks' for the future.  It is not a foolish dream to wish every prisoner the opportunity to share times with the LSW team.  It is a vital dream. 

'What is life without a dream?'

LYNN FARLEIGH 2000, Stage,  2 Yrs, A FAMILY REUNION,                           Royal Shakespeare Company, Adrian Noble 2000, Stage, DIARY OF ANNE FRANK,                           Touring Consortium, Jonathan Church 2000, Television, PEAK PRACTICE,                           Carlton Television, Sue Dunderdale 1999, Stage, THE DEEP BLUE SEA,                           Edinburgh Royal Lyceum Theatre, Muriel Romanes 1999, Television, TRIAL BY FIRE,                           Carlton Television, Patrick Lau 1998, Stage, A DIFFICULT AGE,                          English Touring Company, Stephen Unwin 1998, Television,  Helen Wycliffe - 3 Yrs, WYCLIFFE, HTV