Shakespeare Behind Bars

Synopsis: Documentary. Twenty male inmates of the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in La Grange, Kentucky form an acting troupe and perform The Tempest. The film follows the inmates through a 40-week rehearsal period and stresses the analogies between the play and the prisoners - one man remarks ‘Caliban is such a savage...I feel like I have to regress to play him’. But the play’s themes of forgiveness and redemption are also brought to the fore as the play helps them understand themselves and the nature of their crimes. The film shows the inmates discussing casting and arguing about points of plot and performance; it also demonstrates how the prisoners interact physically with one another in rehearsal.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain; United States
Medium: Television; Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 2005
Notes: Shot on HDV. The DVD extras include prisoner commentaries, filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes, and performance footage. The DVD is available Region 1 only (10/2007).
Subjects: Drama; Shakespeare
Keywords: prisoners; prisons; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); All-male casts; Rehearsals; Untrained actors
Related items: Arts Centric Midday Matters [02/12/2011]

This record has been viewed 590 times.