Doing this play has made me a more confident person towards others on the street and in these 4 walls. 
Tanya (2003)

The best part of prison is making friends; there are no ‘fronts' with ‘jailbirds' unlike In the ‘real world'. The worst thing about prison is the sound of the keys jangling. I think without Drama my time would've gone a lot slower. Doing the play and meeting the students had made me feel like a human being again. 
Lisa (2003)

Doing this play has given me a lot of inspiration and makes me realise that there is more to life than just prison and drugs. Life is good and I'm looking forward to living mine.
Vicki (2003)

I have enjoyed being in the play very much and I hope to be in more plays in the future. Thank you for helping me to see that if you put your heart and mind to something, anything is possible. 
Mimi (2003)

The men in Timberlake Wertenbaker's play Our Country's Good

The drama is going to stay part of my life as I am going to college on release and I enjoy it so much. Thank you for the opportunity. 
Michael (2005)

This is my first time in prison.  I had decided to make the most of my time here and being given this opportunity to be part of such a great cast and producing this play has given me a different insight into what prison is.  From my own experience, projects like this are a great incentive to prisoners to use their time wisely and productively. I am grateful to all who have made this experience possible. 
Gavin (2005)

I have gained an amazing sense of achievement from working as a team to produce an excellent piece of theatre. 
Paul (2005)

Doing the play has reminded me that I am still a real person. Contact with the students and the rest of the team has shown me that the mutual respect between us coupled with the bond between fellow inmates in the cast has created the excellent group dynamic that has made this show so successful.
Paddy (2005)

I hope that the audience enjoy watching the play as much as I have enjoyed learning the lines and performing it. 
George (2005)

I f you had told me four months ago I would be playing one of the lead roles in the play I would have laughed at you. It has been a great experience working with the prisoner/student team and I would recommend it to every prisoner. It's not just about doing a play, it's about building confidence, self-esteem and teamwork skills. I feel it's these skills that can help you to stop re-offending.
Nick (2005)

The men in Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop's Oh What a Lovely War

My life was a total disaster controlled by drug abuse and finally leading to a total loss of control and burning down my house.  Coming to prison gave me the chance to kick the drug addiction but led to a total loss of self-confidence and self-esteem.  The students and staff in the play have helped me gain the self esteem and confidence I had lacked, especially when I sang alone in front of the whole group.  I sincerely hope they continue to stage these plays in years to come so that others in my position are given the same chance that I have had.   
Tim (2006)  
 
I am 29 years old.  I joined this project because I wanted to improve my confidence and social skills and to feel part of something.  I am serving a 4 year sentence.  I am really enjoying the experience and it's nice to meet new people and get away temporarily from the monotony of prison life.  I believe I have gained confidence and self-esteem from doing this and I am positive that these skills will help me in the future. 
Lee (2006)  

I chose to do this project because I wanted to improve my team building skills.  I found that learning my lines has improved my memory skills and I would recommend this course to any other prisoner.
Darren (2006)

I would like to say that your students were a pleasure to work alongside and were a credit to you and your University.  Before I had the opportunity to work with these students my opinion of students was pretty dim classing all students as the same, however my opinion has changed.  Could you please extend my thanks to all the students who helped me over the last six or seven weeks.  When I was rehearsing and performing I felt like I was not in prison and for that I will always be grateful to them.
Mike (2006)

The men in Alfred Jarry's play Ubu The King

I am really looking forward to the main performance but also sad as that will be the end of drama.  I've met some really good people and we all bonded so well. It's an experience I am privileged to be a part of. 
Keith (2007)

I sing and tell jokes wherever  I am. It cheers me up and seems to go down well with the masses.  Music and Drama are excellent ways to express oneself and will lift your mood if you let it.  I recommend it to anyone.
Pete (2007)

Since coming to prison I joined drama and really got into it.  I did the Xmas play and I've continued to be part of the drama group now doing this play.  I feel that I'm getting a lot out of acting and long may it continue.             
Steve (2008)

It has been hard work and fun and being involved in group dynamics is a good reminder of what is expected of me when I do get out and get a job. It was a real achievement to be part of a successful production and good that everyone was involved in contributing ideas that were included in the final production.
Vinnie (2007)     

The men in Brian Woolland's play Stand or Fall

I have a beautiful wife called Tina and 4 gorgeous kids aged 12, 6, 5, and 3 months. They are my life but I have let them down so many times by coming to prison and taking drugs, so I thought by doing this play it would give me more confidence to try new things and give me a different outlook on life. I just want my family to be proud of me and be there for them all. I just had a new baby and now I've got to miss the first 2 ½ years of her life. 
Allan (2008)

I have found this experience rewarding in many ways and I love playing my character ‘Billy Crowbar'. It has built my confidence in talking to new people and I've never done anything like this before. 
Mark (2008)

I wish I could have taken something like this up before I got heavily involved in drink which has been my kryptonite for far too long. Through being in prison I have found myself again and know what needs to be done and how to do it. This has been an amazing experience and thoroughly enjoyable to take part in. 
Simon (2008)

We may not become actors when we get released but we proved to ourselves that we could tap into our creativity, concentrate, take directions and contribute suggestions, all imperative life skills that can be transposed and applied to situations in the outside world. For me it is this aspect of the drama project that has made it a positive, innovative approach to supplementing the rehabilitation process.
Vinnie (2008)

The men in Stephen Jeffrey's play The Convict's Opera

I joined the project because I love drama and I'm really glad as it's given me something creative to do with my time. I'd like to get back into drama when I get out — give me a chance to finish what I started. I've most enjoyed seeing everyone working as a team and am really pleased the play constantly involves everyone. I've also enjoyed meeting new people and being able to do something worthwhile with my time.
Billy (2009)

I have never done anything like this before. I joined this project originally to build on my self-confidence and to learn more about it. I didn't know what to make of it at first but I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and would jump at the chance of doing something like this in the future.
Chris (2009)

I joined the group for something to do and to have some fun, and because I love acting. I've most enjoyed seeing everyone work together and everyone's sense of team-work.
Ivan (2009)

I joined drama to try something I've never done before. The experience has been challenging, but rewarding. I would endorse this to any other inmates looking for something out of the norm.
Floyd (2009)