Friday Trip

I went on the Shakespeare behind bars trip last Friday and for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a 9-month drama program for prison inmates in which they perform a full Shakespearean play by June. (and here's a picture of Shakespeare with pink sunglasses.) We actually got to visit one of their rehearsals in the Chapel, where we could sit with them, ask questions about the program and even get involved in a warm up activity they do to help them with timing while rehearsing. It was a very eye opening experience to interact with people who we have either consciously or not, placed in our minds as "the Other." The crazy thing was, if it weren't for the uniforms and the security and such, I never would have guessed that we were in a prison- they were so welcoming, and worked well together to get their work done. I think the most interesting part was how each inmate could find a way to relate to his character, and literally confront and deal with his problems through the character. One of the inmates said he came from a dark past and realized he needed to learn how to express certain emotions that were lacking from that past. His character this year is one that is trying to find out what love is and what that means to love someone, and he's also going through a similar process through that. Overall, the program helps the inmates develop their humanity, become influential actors, and gives them a community.

I think the cool thing about this was how these plays, these stories can become so instrumental in changing and allowing growth at the unlikeliest of times and places.