From 2018 - 2025, BearFace Theatre CIC, with support from Hampshire Cultural Trust, delivered creative, active and participatory workshop programmes to positively affect prisoner’s attitudes, thinking and behaviour at HMP Winchester.
Each programme was bespoke and unique and based on the individual and collective stories, ideas, values and experiences of the group. The outcome was different each time and did not always result in a performance but at the end of the programme the men shared their work with other prisoners, staff and an invited audience followed by a questions and answers session.
As well as the applied theatre programme, a pilot programme, called Creative Connections took place between June and September 2024. Six two-hour workshops ran at the prison exploring illustration, comic book design, creative writing and music.
To find out more about this programme you can read the evaluation report here.
Feedback include:
“I have been given the opportunity to share and create with my peers and actually see the end product. Looking back on the journey it is empowering to see the impact each person had in making this production what it was.”
“This is the first time I have finished anything – I worked with my anxiety and found a way to work and contribute that was comfortable for me. I am important.”
Invited audience member:
“I cried! Also connected with a deeper understanding. Angry at how people get stuck in the system. “
To find out more about the 11 programmes delivered at HMP Winchester you can read the research report here.
