Theatre as a Strategy for Community Building: The Play Is (and Is Not) the Thing

Ashley Lucas

University of Michigan (United States)

Justyna Biernat

(Poland)

Abstract

Ashley Lucas has focused on the psychological and social effects of theatre work carried out in prisons. She has observed that theatrical performances staged in penitentiaries: rehearsals, workshops, actual performances create an opportunity to build a community, forming and strengthening supportive relationships; to cultivate mutual respect and spirit of collaboration between prison employees, prisoners and people outside the prison (artists, volunteers, audience). To corroborate her thesis, the author invokes the experience of the work of the Open Hearts Open Minds group on Shakespeare’s King Lear (2013) and Winter’s Tale (2014) in the Two Rivers prison in Oregon, and the context of their performance. She analyses the attitude and actions of actors and selected members of the audience, owing to whom the theatrical situation served to establish and develop close family contacts between prisoners, their families, volunteers from outside the prison, actors and spectators. After their first visit to the prison performance, one of the inmates’ mother, Sharon (dubbed Mama Sharon), and his aunt, Andrea (Aunty Andrea), contacted the prisoners, wrote them regularly, sent pictures, came to the next premieres, and were happy to meet and talk to them. Performances became catalysts for relationships that were reciprocal and partner relations by nature, and being able to change the individuals; they are a gift.

Keywords:

prison theatre, theatre in prison, prison art, social rehabilitation, dramatherapy