‘Study Is Like the Heaven’s Glorious Sun’—Learning through Shakespeare for Men Convicted of Sexual Offences

Abstract

Emergency Shakespeare is a collaboratively owned theatre company based in an English prison for men convicted of sexual offences. It is the first permanent theatre company of its kind with this population. This article explores the ways in which Shakespeare is used as a way of developing transferable skills such as self-confidence, resilience, teamwork and negotiation with a group of people whom society will stigmatise for their convictions. Constructivist educational methodologies are employed by the Artistic Director to encourage those involved to develop their own sense of autonomy and ownership of the artistic work created.