TYPE OF WORK
Cognitive, behavioural and creative participatory drama based programmes with those in custody

TARGET GROUPS
Those in custody, including adult males, young offenders and adult women

GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
UK

COMPANY POLICY
Personal change and personal development involve the use of the imagination and the creative abilities of the individual, to perceive choices and act upon them in a way which is informed and pro-social. Arts programmes take a crucial role in aiding this process through generating an alternative reality within which life choices can be represented and discussed.

Saul Hewish and Chris Johnston have led training of prison officers, probation officers and other criminal justice staff both in the UK and abroad.

SCALE OF PROJECTS
Number of practitioners: 1–4
Number of participants: 12
Preparation time: 1 month
Contact time: 1 day – 6 weeks

PERMANENT STAFF
Saul Hewish, Director
Chris Johnston, Director

Repeating Stories (UK, 2002)
A two-week drama and sculpture project in three prisons, each with an inmate group of about 10. The participants were introduced to Rideout’s creative process, which involved sharing accounts of their offending behaviour and identifying recurring patterns. The process then moved to visualising these patterns firstly as dramatised imagery and secondly as two and three-dimensional works of art and kinetic sculpture. This led on to the participants creating three-dimensional kinetic sculpture. Typically, sculptures concerned drugs or drugs importation, violence, addiction and the cycles of crime and prison.

Thirty sculptures were exhibited publicly, CD-ROMs were created of the sculptures, which included audio feedback from visitors to the exhibitions. These CD-ROMs were sent to all the participants in the project as well as the funding bodies and prison staff.

The Creative Prison
Working with a group of prisoners serving life sentences, on designing a prison which will then be built in miniature and exhibited. (contact the company for details of location and dates)

Long-term partnership with Dovegate Prison
To restore the prison theatre and train the inmates in theatre production and play devising. (UK, commencing summer 2003)