Shakespeare Prison Project
A$11,296
of $10,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 6th Jun 2014 at 1:57AM.
Facilitators from the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble work with up to 20
prisoners during each project to perform a Shakespeare play. The project
utilizes a combination of Shakespeare text and drama games, in particular Theatre
of the Oppressed techniques developed by Brazilian Theatre-maker and
activist Augusto Boal. The prison participants are cast in lead roles for the
final performances.
The heart of the Shakespeare Prison Project philosophy is that violent behaviour often arises from an inability to express negative thoughts and emotions in words. The project develops emotional bravery, self-awareness, social skills, self-confidence, individual dedication as well as the commitment to work as a member of a team.
In 2013, the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre in Gatton hosted the Project, culminating in two performances of The Comedy of Errors. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting, amongst other things, feeling pride in themselves for the first time.
Feedback from past participants:
"When I went to the first class, I shocked myself how involved I became in the class. First time I felt comfortable to interact with others since being incarcerated… from day one of Shakespeare I felt free to be me."
"I have learnt you can be more than what the system says you are."
“After many weeks of the most ridiculous things I had ever done with a group of people, let alone myself, I found myself begin to change... I began to actually feel the hurt that I had caused.”
"When the audience stood up and applauded. At that moment I felt like an actual GOOD person… a sense of accomplishment… I was actually PROUD of myself."
Project Launch - Friday 10 October, 2014
Performance Date (TBC) - Saturday 13 December , 2014
The heart of the Shakespeare Prison Project philosophy is that violent behaviour often arises from an inability to express negative thoughts and emotions in words. The project develops emotional bravery, self-awareness, social skills, self-confidence, individual dedication as well as the commitment to work as a member of a team.
In 2013, the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre in Gatton hosted the Project, culminating in two performances of The Comedy of Errors. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting, amongst other things, feeling pride in themselves for the first time.
Feedback from past participants:
"When I went to the first class, I shocked myself how involved I became in the class. First time I felt comfortable to interact with others since being incarcerated… from day one of Shakespeare I felt free to be me."
"I have learnt you can be more than what the system says you are."
“After many weeks of the most ridiculous things I had ever done with a group of people, let alone myself, I found myself begin to change... I began to actually feel the hurt that I had caused.”
"When the audience stood up and applauded. At that moment I felt like an actual GOOD person… a sense of accomplishment… I was actually PROUD of myself."
Project Launch - Friday 10 October, 2014
Performance Date (TBC) - Saturday 13 December , 2014
About the Director - Dr Rob Pensalfini
Dr. Pensalfini is the Shakespeare
Prison Project founder and the Artistic Director of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble. Rob is a Senior Lecturer in
Linguistics and Drama at the University of Queensland, and completed his
doctorate in theoretical linguistics and Australian Aboriginal languages at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997.
He has published two books and numerous articles on aboriginal languages, and on theatre and actor training. Rob is currently working on a book on Prison Shakespeare, to be published by Palgrave MacMillan. He is one of only eight people in Australia certified to teach the world-renowned Linklater voice method. Rob has worked professionally as an actor, director, musician, and teacher in both the USA and Australia, and has recently returned from a trip to Italy and the USA working with other Shakespeare prison projects.
He has published two books and numerous articles on aboriginal languages, and on theatre and actor training. Rob is currently working on a book on Prison Shakespeare, to be published by Palgrave MacMillan. He is one of only eight people in Australia certified to teach the world-renowned Linklater voice method. Rob has worked professionally as an actor, director, musician, and teacher in both the USA and Australia, and has recently returned from a trip to Italy and the USA working with other Shakespeare prison projects.
The Challenges
Our main challenge is to build a regular funding model for the project; to be
able to allocate resources to engaging more prison participants and bringing
shows to life, rather than scrambling for funding each year.
We welcome suggestions and interest from individuals and organisations that understand the value of the project, and may be able to support it in any way (financial contributions, expertise or suggestions.)
We welcome suggestions and interest from individuals and organisations that understand the value of the project, and may be able to support it in any way (financial contributions, expertise or suggestions.)
* A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
9 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 14
* Email with feedback from project participants. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
31 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 14
* A posted program of the show. * Email with feedback from project participants. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
33 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 14
* A ticket to the 2014 Project Launch. * A posted program of the show. * Email with feedback from project participants. * Your name on the 2014 promotional material and website. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
17 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 14
* A seat at the final performance. (Security clearance pending.) * A ticket to the 2014 Project Launch. * A posted program of the show. * Email of feedback from project participants. * Your name on the 2014 promotional material and website. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
4 chosen / 26 available
Est. delivery is Dec 14
* Dinner for you and a guest with the project team. * A seat at the final performance. (Security clearance pending.) * A ticket to the 2014 Project Launch. * A posted program of the show. * Email of feedback from project participants. * Your name on the 2014 promotional material and website. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
1 chosen / 9 available
Est. delivery is Jan 15
* Acknowledgement as a 2014 MAJOR SPONSOR. * 2 x Tickets to Gala Event of The Tempest * Dinner for you and a guest with the project team. * A seat at the final performance. (Security clearance pending.) * A ticket to the 2014 Project Launch. * A posted program of the show. * Email of feedback from project participants. * A shout-out on Facebook. * The knowledge that you're having a positive impact on someone's life.
0 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is Jan 15