Productions
Scottish Prison Service
A pilot project in HMP & YOI Polmont, Stirling blends the art of rapping with interactive theatre for people in women’s custody unit.
Performance:
“Unbroken Collective”
Unbroken collective
In this groundbreaking project participants will explore personal stories, conflicts, and resolutions, culminating in a small performance showcasing their work. The programme will empower people in women’s prisons by providing a creative outlet to express their emotions, experiences, and challenges through rap and theatre. This process will help participants build confidence, improve communication skills, and develop conflict resolution abilities. Forum Theatre will allow women to explore real-life scenarios, while lyric writing will help them process their feelings and tell their stories in a powerful way.
“You learn it’s okay to be silly and not be judged for it”
Unbroken Collective Member
“Alot of people are negative outside of this room, with this workshop its a great place to be positive”
Unbroken Collective Member
“At first I thought, ‘Oh no, what’s this?’ — but once I got into it, I realised how great it really is.”
Unbroken Collective Member
“Never ever did anything like this before, honestly I didn’t know I had this talent, I leave feeling buzzing”
Unbroken Collective Member
Production background
"Unbroken Collective" is designed to involve the community of women in the prison, drawing directly from their lived experiences. We have established a strong partnership with the prison, and through regular conversations with staff, we identified the need for a creative, supportive space for self-expression and personal growth.
The staff in the prison have actively contributed to the development of the project by expressing interest in creative outlets like Hip Hop and theatre. Participants will be involved in shaping the content and delivery of the project, with regular opportunities for reflection and input during each session. The facilitators, who have lived experience of marginalization, ensure that the program resonates authentically with the people in women’s prison, creating a space that truly reflects their voices and needs.