Confessions of a masked man: an exploration into how masks are used in prison theatre’s rehabilitation techniques with specific look into Geese Theatre Company’s work.

TL;DRAbstract

This explorative study aims to investigate how Geese Theatre’s programme The Violent Illusion Trilogy and use of the mask affects the progress of rehabilitation within offenders. It will draw attention to the spiritual power and metaphoric use of the mask within prison theatre rehabilitation and how it can be used to facilitate the growth of social skills within prisoners. The aspects explored are; the depiction and power of masks across different cultures in order to gain context of the abilities masks possess; the context and use of prison theatre as a rehabilitative power; and the drama-based techniques Geese Theatre Company use to achieve rehabilitation. Through this examination it is clear that the masks are visibly used with the programme as a gateway into prisoners vulnerable emotional side and ultimately to confession; evidently a place that holds the success of rehabilitation. A key technique is the metaphoric use of “lifting the mask”. The confession made by symbolically remo

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