Stages of Justice takes you inside the world of theatre in the criminal justice system. For over fifty years, theatre companies have undertaken powerful creative projects at the heart of the British justice system, but because this work often takes place behind prison walls its impact is seldom seen by wider audiences. Through interviews with artists, prison staff, justice experts, and people with lived experience of incarceration we uncover the histories of these distinctive arts practices and examine how performance is navigating the contemporary crisis in our prisons. Across the series we reflect on the power of creativity to build human connection, spark change, and shift understandings of justice both onstage and off. Reflective, political and compelling, Stages of Justice shines a light on the potential of the arts in places you might least expect to find them.
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Stages of Justice takes you inside the world of theatre in the criminal justice system. For over fifty years, theatre companies have undertaken powerful creative projects at the heart of the British justice system, but because this work often takes place behind prison walls its impact is seldom seen by wider audiences. Through interviews with artists, prison staff, justice experts, and people with lived experience of incarceration we uncover the histories of these distinctive arts practices and examine how performance is navigating the contemporary crisis in our prisons. Across the series we reflect on the power of creativity to build human connection, spark change, and shift understandings of justice both onstage and off. Reflective, political and compelling, Stages of Justice shines a light on the potential of the arts in places you might least expect to find them.
Corinna Seeds is the founder of Stirrabout Theatre and a force to be reckoned with. In this bonus episode of Stages of Justice, I share my full conversation with Corinna, where she reflects on her experience establishing Britain’s first company created to bring theatre into prisons. Founded in 1974 and disbanded in 1983 due to funding cuts and a hostile arts climate, Corinna shares some of the challenges, surprises and excitement of making theatre in prisons against all the odds.
Host Dr Sarah BartleyCo-host Shona BabyemiProducer Debbie KilbrideExecutive Producer Sukey Firth Sound Engineer Max Aspen Original music composed by Rex HoranVisual design Russell Miller
Thanks go to staff at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, particularly Laura Wardle, Phil Rowe, Samuel Bailey, Bryce Lease, Amy Ryall, and Izzy Stuart.
Stages of Justice was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, with additional support from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Stages of Justice
Stages of Justice takes you inside the world of theatre in the criminal justice system. For over fifty years, theatre companies have undertaken powerful creative projects at the heart of the British justice system, but because this work often takes place behind prison walls its impact is seldom seen by wider audiences. Through interviews with artists, prison staff, justice experts, and people with lived experience of incarceration we uncover the histories of these distinctive arts practices and examine how performance is navigating the contemporary crisis in our prisons. Across the series we reflect on the power of creativity to build human connection, spark change, and shift understandings of justice both onstage and off. Reflective, political and compelling, Stages of Justice shines a light on the potential of the arts in places you might least expect to find them.
