It is a very unusual and interesting idea to put on a Shakespeare play in prison. To hear of people who often have not had more than a 4th grade education reciting A Midsummer Nights Dream is very inspirational. Learning to read is a very important gift that they are finally learning. This piece really makes you have hope in everybody, even condemned criminals. This piece is very visual. I can really see men with buzz cuts and many extensive tattoos in togas tiptoeing through the fairy laden forest of cardboard and PCV pipe. Putting on this play teaches the inmates teamwork and self-confidence. The tone of the piece is factual, and the reader seems to have no input on the matter one way or another. The only reason I did not give this piece five stars is because the editing is very basic with not much background sound and interesting choices.
A solid report on how art can change lives. Shakespeare is the Olympics of acting so having prisoners (some who were illiterate) is a major challenge. This piece describes the process of rehearsing and learning how to perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and how it teaches literacy and increases self-esteem and communication skills. Though it's mostly a fun approach and doesn't delve very deeply into any prisoner's story, this is a nice drop-in for the summer. I have a feeling that access was very limited and the focus had to be just on the production itself. Still it would make a good addition to a news magazine.
Comments for Shakespeare in prison
Produced by Julie Rose
Other pieces by KCPW Salt Lake City
Rating Summary
2 comments
Adrian Boyes
Posted on August 14, 2005 at 02:50 PM | Permalink
Review of Shakespeare in prison
It is a very unusual and interesting idea to put on a Shakespeare play in prison. To hear of people who often have not had more than a 4th grade education reciting A Midsummer Nights Dream is very inspirational. Learning to read is a very important gift that they are finally learning. This piece really makes you have hope in everybody, even condemned criminals. This piece is very visual. I can really see men with buzz cuts and many extensive tattoos in togas tiptoeing through the fairy laden forest of cardboard and PCV pipe. Putting on this play teaches the inmates teamwork and self-confidence. The tone of the piece is factual, and the reader seems to have no input on the matter one way or another. The only reason I did not give this piece five stars is because the editing is very basic with not much background sound and interesting choices.
Dmae Lo Roberts
Posted on July 30, 2005 at 10:03 AM | Permalink
Review of Shakespeare in prison
A solid report on how art can change lives. Shakespeare is the Olympics of acting so having prisoners (some who were illiterate) is a major challenge. This piece describes the process of rehearsing and learning how to perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and how it teaches literacy and increases self-esteem and communication skills. Though it's mostly a fun approach and doesn't delve very deeply into any prisoner's story, this is a nice drop-in for the summer. I have a feeling that access was very limited and the focus had to be just on the production itself. Still it would make a good addition to a news magazine.