Steve Brine has welcomed the 10th anniversary of Playing for Time Theatre Company at West Hill HMP Winchester, marked with another major production performed by prisoners working alongside students from the University of Winchester.
Rehearsals are now well underway for Our Country's Good this spring (30th April to 2nd May), a play by Timberlake Wertenbaker, based on a true story about convicts in a penal colony in New South Wales in the 1780s. The Governor in Chief, Captain Arthur Philip, decided that staging a production of The Recruiting Officer could aid the rehabilitation of the convicts by helping them to change their views of themselves. Our Country's Good explores this story and the arguments against and in favour of prisoners taking part in arts activities.
Annie McKean, project manager and producer from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Winchester, said: "This play resonates so effectively with the contemporary context of staging plays in prisons.
"It is the perfect vehicle for staff and participants in the prison to reflect on the effect that undertaking this kind of work has on everyone involved."
Playing for Time Theatre Company first staged Our Country's Good back in 2005. This year's production will be directed by Dr Marianne Sharp, Senior Lecturer in Drama at the University of Winchester. The prisoners will be supported by 17 undergraduate students working as actors and mentors, assisted by the University's technical theatre team and musical director, Richard Daniels, former Education Manager at HMP Winchester. This year's production has been supported by funding from Arts Council England and the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Foundation.
Steve Brine said: "I attended last year's performance and didn't really know what to expect if I am honest but I was simply blown away by the standard of the performance and the energy the young people had on display. This is a positive contribution and I think it's fair to say, students and prisoners both gained in equal measure from the process. I look forward to seeing many more shows in years to come."
Playing for Time was founded by Annie McKean in 2003. Since then Playing for Time has won a number of awards, including Koestler Awards for Stand or Fall (2008); The Government Inspector (2010); Soul Traders (2011); and a MacJannet Prize through the Talloires Network which recognises exceptional student civic engagement initiatives. Annie herself was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to Higher Education.
Pictured; Steve with UoW Vice Chancellor, Prof Joy Carter.
More information...
More information about the Prison Theatre Project and Playing for Time Theatre Company can be found on www.playingfortime.org.uk, and further details about programmes of study in Drama and Performing Arts at the University of Winchester can be found on www.winchester.ac.uk.