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
Transmission details: 18 Apr 2004 (Channel: BBC4)
Duration: 92 mins

Production type: Documentary/Educational/News
Plays: Tempest, The
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]

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).
General: The PEN prize for prison writing 2010 was given to Hal Cobb, a founding inmate member of Shakespeare Behind Bars, for an essay discussing his ongoing engagement with the role of Prospero. Cobb’s essay is available at http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/4923 (accessed 7/2010).
History: First transmitted on UK television 18 April 2004 (BBC4) in the Storyville series.
Awards: 2005 - Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival.
Reviews: Melinkoff, Kirk Shakespeare Bulletin (2005) 23, no. 3 (2005) pp 75-80.

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British Universities Film & Video Council