Looking Ahead with LSW  

The LSW Prison Project undertook 62 projects in 2002 in 37 prisons spanning Sussex to Staffordshire alongside incentives for ex-offenders in London and Manchester. Each and all of these programmes continue in 2003 with a branching out on a national basis with the great assistance of the Sainsbury Family Trusts. 

Theatrical partnerships enjoyed by LSW thus far have included those with The Nottingham Playhouse, The Birmingham Repertory, RSC, Chichester Festival Theatre, The Old Vic, Thelma Holt Productions, Manchester’s Contact Theatre and The Royal Opera House.

Special 2003 projects include but are not limited to: -

 

  f A production of Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 3, (here entitled
       The Wax King) utilising the talents (inclusively) of inmates, ex-offenders
       and inmates at HMP Pentonville and performed infront of the general
       public and inmates alike.  This programme is generously sponsored by 
       the Arts Council of England, London Lottery programme;

  f The recording of Shakespeare sonnets and original inmate writing with
       named professionals and produced by inmates at HMP Bullingdon
       thanks to the Arts Council of England, Southeast Lottery programme;

f    A week’s sojourn in Canada (17.10 - 27.10.03) working with the
  Canadian Stratford and Shaw Festivals in Toronto Jail and Stratford
  and Niagara Dentention Centres.

f   An active association with Chris Grace and the Animated Shakespeare
  Tales for prison performances utilising inmates and professionals
  commencing with Animated Macbeth at HMP Wandsworth;

f    Encouraging our on-going associations with Oxford and Cambridge
  Universities in terms of the ‘VOICES’ programme celebrating new writing
   inside and out inclusive of the kind support and co-operation of the
  Koestler Arts Trust

 

Each and all of these are being carried out alongside LSW’s new media arts training programme, ‘Dreaming Will,’ utilising ex-offenders and professionals in the creation of a video series (3 planned in 2003) based on themes inspired by Shakespeare such as would be relevant to contemporary institutional life and distributed free of charge to all UK prison educational centres in juncture with Prisons Video Magazine.  Piloted at Cambridge University, Dreaming Will was joyfully launched at HMP Pentonville on 16.1.03.   The LSW Prison Project seeks to employ the works of Shakespeare and other major dramatic voices/thinkers as a tool towards effective interaction in order to promote confidence through the Will to Dream for all.

 

We are such stuff as dreams are made on. 

LSW is Growing

It has, perhaps not surprisingly been a very active time since I last issued an LSW newsletter at the end of last year.  A few of the exciting items in the interim include:-  

• A year and a half ago Jane Attenborough, the zealous Arts Officer for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, asked me if LSW would be interested in doing full productions of Shakespeare in prisons.  Although interested, I did not feel that the core LSW programmes were well enough established at that time to answer that call immediately.  Notwithstanding, In February 2003 we launch the first LSW production of a Shakespeare play, in this case, Henry VI, Part 3.  The production was called The Wax King and was a triumph for all concerned.  Production/performance details are reflected in the URL below:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello1/Waxkingnotice2.htm

• The very attractive poster for The Wax King can be viewed via the link below:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello1/Waxkingposter.jpg

• Following the production, LSW Executive Committee Member, Gayle Hunnicutt, sent a letter out to supporters giving a brief notation of the overwhealmingly positive response and inviting them to the upcoming Dreaming Will screening:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/gayleletbully.htm
  
  

• As indicated in Gayle's note, we were deeply honoured to receive a positive review from Michael Billington in The Guardian
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/Guardian.htm
  
  

• The joy of the LSW teams is always rooted, however, in that of the inmates.  Here, one, Roy, offers an effective evaluation on behalf of the dedicated team of 18 prisoners who took part in the production alongside 12 professionals.
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/forging.htm
  
  as well as a follow-up letter received later:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/shout.htm
  
  There have been many, and professionals of the company have been back to the prison to continue the work with those inmates who remain.
  

• During the rehearsals of The Wax King one inmate was rapidly released - Very rapidly.  His participation in the production had come to mean a huge amount to him.  Attached please find a copy of his letter to The Governor once released, requesting to come back into the prison and to be allowed to finish the job he had begun.  It speaks for itself, very movingly.  Sadly permission could not be granted, but Woody, after his release, took part in the filming of the Dreaming Will Initiative documentary, 'Bully Me; Bully Who?'
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/fist.htm
  
  

• The audience for The Wax King was, as Michael Billington suggested, a very prestigious one.  Here, among a huge number, are a selection of e-mails received by the Chairman of the LSW Executive Committee:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/Waxdreame-mails.htm
  
  As well as but one of a great number of letters, this being from Professor Rod Morgan, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/rodmorgan.htm
  
  
  Letters were not only received by LSW.  Here a letter from Hilary Pugh at MIND was sent directly to the Governor of HMP Pentonville, Gareth Davies:-
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/wordperfect.htm
  
  

• During the run of The Wax King we were also most proud to see - and after much work - that the Dreaming Will initiative was able to be launched on 16th January 2003.  This is the single most important new LSW programme planned for 2003.  The Dreaming Will Initiative, a joint venture between the LSW Prison Project and Prisons Video Magazine (PVM), enabled through most generous initial funding by Dependency 2 Work, is a programme which (a) offers training to offenders, ex-offenders and professionals in the applied literacies (verbal, written, numeric, musical, and visual) as are actively involved in the shooting and editing of digital video in tandem with LSW's practical employment of the texts of Shakespeare and other major dramatic writers and thinkers throughout time and (b) additionally sees the professional production of programmes on themes of universal institutional import to be distributed on a complimentary basis to correctional centres throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.  The Dreaming Will Initiative Training programme, initially piloted with ex-offenders at Cambridge University in November 2002, is now active in four prisons.  Of the twelve ex-offenders who took part in the pilot programme, three are now gainfully employed within the film industry as a direct result.  The associated ex-offender/professional Dreaming Will Training Programmes are to be launched in June in tandem with The Actors Centre.  Of course, the happily established ex-offender/professional LSW Workouts shall continue to grow in tandem.  
  
  To give some indication of the impact, please read a letter from Clare at HMP Cookham Wood who has enjoyed a full Dreaming Will Training Programme, herself creating a film about the Listener's Programme for the prison itsef:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/leaping.htm  
  
  as well as a response from Ian Kirby, Education Manager of the self-same prison.  
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/hopelens.htm
  

• In fulfillment of stated 'Dreaming Will Initiative' goal, LSW and PVM under the Dreaming Will banner have successfully produced six films for distribution since 16th January 2003.  These are:  How do You Know My Daughter; Bully Me; Bully Who?; Shadows; Souls in Hope; Feast in a Cry of Players and Writing Wrongs of Dumbing Down.  Among those who have been actively involved include Nichola McAuliffe, Stephen Shaw, Sheila Reid, Barry Morse, Lynn Farleigh, Sir David Ramsbotham, Gayle Hunnicutt, Fenella Fielding, Roger Graef and Lady Simone Warner.
  
  The films were proudly premiered in a programme which mixed film with live performance of original inmate writing on 24th March 2003 at the Curzon Soho Cinema, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of London's West End.  There was an excellent turnout.
  
  Full reports on The Dreaming Will Initiative have been created and can be found under the cover sheet:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/DW.htm  
  
  or, for the specific films, on the associated URLs:-
  
  How do You Know My Daughter:  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/Daughter.htm
  
  Bully Me; Bully Who?: 
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/bullyme.htm
  
  Shadows & Writing Wrongs of Dumbing Down:    
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/shadows.htm
  
  Souls in Hope:    
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/Othello2/souls.htm
  

• One of the most extraordinary pieces of writing to be created recently was by Randerick at HMP Pentonville.  It is entitled 'Shakespeare in The Big House' and we are honoured to be able to share this with you:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/bighouse.htm
  
  

• There was much writing during the period of The Wax King.  Here another budding poet, Danny, writes a telling poem, 'Happy to Pretend':
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/happy.htm
  

• Of course, it remains the LSW Shakespeare Workouts in the wide variety of prisons (now numbering 43) which remain key to all LSW activities.  Here is a wonderful letter on the occasion of LSW's debut at HMP Belmarsh from the Education Manager therein, Helen Matthews.  I think Helen's letter beautifully defines the experiences we are privileged to undertake with LSW on a weekly basis:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/differing.htm
  
  

• And giving equal voice to Helen's staff, here a equally poignant letter from one of the teachers who took active part in the Workout, Peter:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/realising.htm
  
  

• Not, of course, to forget the inmates, who make each and every LSW session so special, 
  please find here a letter from an inmate relating his experiences in a Workout at HMP Bedford on 16th April 2003:
  
  http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/assaulting2.htm
  

A VITAL ADDENDUM

I will close out this newsletter with a restricted link to an article by LSW Associate Artist, Anders Lustgarten entitled In the Penal Colony: What Prison Actually Does to Us.  For those who have the time, this is a most illuminating read.  I very much encourage you to take ten minutes to watch Anders paint this extraordinary picture, one generated through enormous skill and experience.

http://www.londonshakespeare.org.uk/prisondiaries/penal.htm

Bless you all for your continuing support of the dream which is LSW.

 

Should you be a new reader of these pages and interested in attending one of the LSW Sundays, it is kindly requested that, should you fall under the category of 'professional actor' that you need have the appropriate classical training/experience and interactive skills to fully benefit from the vast joy which is continually returned within the LSW Prison Projects.  Should this be the case, please write to:  Bruce Wall, Chairman, LSW Executive Committee, LSW Prison Project, Post Office Box 31855, London SE17 3XP or send your missive via an e-mail message.  New applicants will be notified, where applicable, of the next available 'New Member' LSW Developmental session.  For the LSW Guest 'Events' established members will be contacted by e-mail ONLY if space available.  As usual, there will always be a mix of established LSW members and newcomers in order to better feed the community service programmes.

Should you be an ex-offender and/or identified as being 'at risk', please feel free to write to the above address, if possible by e-mail.  We shall endeavour to do our best to respond to all correspondence.