Is it a coincidence that an area with little to no art is an area with a high crime rate?
Upon numerous workshops in Buckley Hall Prison based in Rochdale, it was apparent to me that the arts weren’t widely prevalent in the lives of these men. However, with a little encouragement in our sessions, they were raring to go and quickly became buzzing from the excitement of performing. A new world we all created together became a safe space for them to tap into the childish part of the mind and freely play. It became clear that many of them had simply never had the opportunity to experience drama activities and hadn’t explored this type of stimulation. It proved to be a healthy process which allowed for creative collaboration and an emotional outlet. Once the formalities had passed and the closeness began, the men opened up and shifted into comfortable, childlike versions of themselves who simply, in their own words were “happy they were being treated as equals”.
The lack of art funding is an ongoing issue that damages all types of creative potential and limits budding artists from enjoying their passions. Entering a prison setting, it is clear to see how these men are treated and perceived. Like an animal in a zoo, they are watched over by spectators filled with interest and fear. They are studied as something to be afraid of or at times, a spectacle for the public’s entertainment. However, at their root they are people with emotions, needs and a want for normal human interaction. In the particular scenario I was in, I saw as they thrived at the stimulus given to them and took very little convincing to get on their feet and perform with us and each other.
Going into the prison we were instructed to have a clear theme for the week’s workshops. We decided on the theme of empathy. A theme, even though my idea, scared me to present to a group of older men. A fear which proved to be irrelevant as they all took it in their stride and proved to be receptive to all of our comments and ideas. Not only this but naturally began linking their own performances to the idea independently. A concern of mine was that they would feel lectured and condescended by the theme when in reality we simply needed a stimulus, and the study of other people’s emotions is crucial to an actor’s craft. They understood this and used the theme to further their scenes and create emotive pieces of artwork.
I watched as friendships began and flourished and positive interactions increased. To watch groups of seemingly tough men discuss gratitude simply for being treated as equals and as worthwhile humans really puts into perspective the box that these men were put in from early stages in their lives. Men opened up to me and to each other about their difficult pasts and childhoods and it is apparent that there is a clear trend of who enters a prison setting. And it’s safe to admit that in this particular case, it’s not those with a privileged past.