Now that spring is in full swing, we wanted to think about themes of renewal and regeneration — and we found one of the finest examples of this in a previous post on theatre as “The Greatest Gift.” There, we focused on a remarkable episode from the “This American Life” radio program — listen here.
First broadcast in 2002, the episode chronicles the work of the Prison Performing Arts organization and its staging of Hamlet in the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center, directed by the peerless Agnes Wilcox. With the inmates themselves performing in the production, and reflecting on their lives as they inhabit the characters, this is indeed a celebration of the transformative power of Shakespeare’s theatre.
Though a great deal of the content would be too intense for children, teachers can learn much from this documentary about the literally life-changing impact of entering Shakespeare’s world. As one inmate explained, “After doing this, I felt like I was human again . . . Like I really could do anything when I get out.” This is truly the greatest gift that theatre gives us: a feeling of shared humanity, of creativity and accomplishment. It brings to mind the words of one of our young Shakespeare For Our Children actors following a performance: “I felt like I was flying! I know I’m going to dream about this tonight.”
What unites the responses of a young child and an adult prisoner? The shared feeling of liberation, of belonging, on the stage. For with his profound understanding of human nature, Shakespeare’s words allow us to express the truths of our universal experience — no matter our circumstances.
©2023