Is drama in prisons an effective means of rehabilitation? Due to limitations, this study will focus on Forum and Documentary theatre techniques used in rehabilitation.

Abstract

This dissertation study investigates whether drama is an effective means of rehabilitation of offenders in prison. This research project will focus on the use of Forum and Documentary theatre techniques with the main focus being on the effect of these techniques in British prisons but will also include data from America and Brazil. It is well known that offending and reoffending rates in Britain are on the rise. This in turn has led to an ever-increasing British prison population. Today, finding successful ways of rehabilitating offenders for life back into the community has never been more important. "As our nation's criminal justice systems focus on preparing offenders for successful re-entry to our communities, the revolutionary results that can be achieved through performance-based arts programmes demand our attention" (Performing New Lives, 2011, p.7). This study will explore the ways in which Forum and Documentary theatre techniques have been and are currently used to rehabilitate offenders. It will consider the challenges faced by the theatre practitioners who use these techniques, by using quantitative and qualitative information from books, journals, government publications, newspapers and interviews with theatre practitioners themselves. This study has found that both Forum and Documentary Theatre contribute effectively to drama's rehabilitating role in prison.