I love to get articles sent by readers describing events and activities within their prisons. Partly because it saves me having to write anything, but mainly because it gives an honest view from the inside, and here is one such. Just before Christmas I was due to visit HMP Stafford to watch and enjoy a show put together by prisoners with the support and encouragement of Lee Stedman, the prison’s Head of Drug Strategy and Rehabilitative Culture Lead.
Unfortunately, I had to have a minor eye operation so could not travel, but Governor Stedman asked one of those in the prison to write a review, and here it is below, in full. This ‘Ray Says’ is dedicated to all those who took part in an innovative event, and I will look at that in more detail at the end. It is good to start the New Year with such a positive initiative.
The Thoughts of Reviewer M from HMP Stafford
A West Midlands prison has given inmates an opportunity to show off their wide range of skills in art, poetry, and entertainment. During the festive season, HMP Stafford’s Talent Showcase featured over twenty live acts, in front of an audience, in the prison’s sports hall, where there were also a variety of novel artworks also on display.
Music played the biggest part. There was plenty of rap, a fixture of course in UK prisons, performed by Craig, Chris, and Josh. Then amongst the repertoire of well-known tunes was U2’s With or Without You, by Justin and Phil, whilst Army veteran Mick did a fulsome version of Leavin’ On a Jet Plane, dedicating it to “all you guys waiting for your D Cat.” A move which went down very well with the crowd. And even though it was a seventies number, it was recognised across the age divide as everyone joined in.
Jaroslaw and Brad each showed off their guitar skills, backed by the in-house JAMS musicians, whilst a version of Wonderwall lit up the sports hall. Who needs the Gallagher brothers when you’ve got Luke and Joel to perform? Original songs about life behind bars featured, with Rob performing no less than two such numbers he’d written during his time inside, one line being “the system is broken.” Meanwhile the Beating Time choir, who meet up once a week to rehearse in Stafford’s chapel, performed a number from the Lion King.
The biggest cheer at the event went to 81-year-old Dai, who let rip with his version of a Steppenwolf rock classic. It’s been quite a year for Dai, as he has learned to read and write in the past twelve months, showing you’re never too old to learn or indeed sing Born to Be Wild, in front of a selective audience of prisoners and officers.
Michael tried his hand at comedy, and quite successfully too as he related life behind bars. The biggest laughs came from in-house gags, with Michael focusing on the propensity to serve “carrots with everything at the servery”. He went on to say, “Here’s us, locked in and locked up with all these carrots, when outside these walls, at this festive season, are hundreds of hungry reindeer, just waiting for a slice of the action.”
The Golden Act prize, chosen by the judging panel, went to younger prisoners Austin, and Jacob. Their “Original Song” featured a rap section alongside their own vocals and backing, and was performed without a hitch.
Innovation is often a feature of prison art, using any materials that come to hand. Therefore using prison staples of matchsticks, bread, and paper, the artworks included Stuart’s impressive origami original: an eagle in bold flight. Adrian excelled with a saxophone and his bread Tasmanian Devil. Bread, but not bred in captivity. There was also Shamus’ collection of car paintings, alongside moneyboxes and jewellery cases made from matchsticks to name but a few. All entries for the Talent Showcase are part of HMP Stafford’s Rehabilitative Culture strand, with prisoners getting an opportunity for their talent to be seen and heard. And to finish, let’s take a line from Kevin’s “Realisms” poem. “There is always help, no matter how hard life seems to be. Please take a deep breath and listen to me.”
From M, HMP Stafford
Entertaining, educational, exciting
I regret not being able to join this event, because there is so much to admire. As well as missing the fun I was keen to hear about other initiatives being organised within Stafford. What I have learned already is that it is those inside who are very much involved in creating ideas, and that the prison gives them encouragement and support.
Indeed, the most recent report by Stafford’s Independent Monitoring Board recognised this, and said: “All involved with the rehabilitative culture across the prison, both staff and prisoners, work tremendously hard to deliver information and events for the benefit of all prisons, which was recognised in many reports as being extremely successful.” This was one example of that.
Activities such as this talent competition have a number of benefits, as M has described. First, they provide quality entertainment, and that is good in itself in the often depressing environment of a prison. Second, they generate a great feeling of unity and support amongst those watching. Prisoners like to see their fellows being successful in this type of venture, and I have been present on many other occasions to celebrate that with them.
Then, and perhaps crucially, it gives an end point for work that those inside have done. The mix of art displays, which certainly sound remarkably creative, with music and entertainment made for an enjoyable morning for all concerned and for those who contributed it was a fitting finale for the work for which they had prepared. I hope they all felt appropriately proud of what they had done. I am sure they did.
Finally, thanks to M from Stafford. Thanks also to Governor Stedman, for letting us know about this event, and it was good of M to take the time to send in his full and descriptive report at such short notice. He has promised to send more descriptions of activities from HMP Stafford, and I hope to visit and meet him when I do.
However I clearly will have to protect my back, or this little column could become ‘M Says’, which might have the additional appeal of being far more James Bond like than I could ever be.
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