Following the incredible response generated by Bruce Wall’s prison-based theatre production last February, the British director is back in Malta to see When You Hear My Voice premiered on the big screen together with two other related documentaries. Interview by Ramona Depares.
When director Bruce Wall brought When You Hear My Voice to the Prison Project Community Outreach programme and to the St James Cavalier stage last February, it proved to be a first on many levels.
Developing theatrical projects in prisons is always a dangerous voyage in which any number of wonderful things can happen
For many of the participants – all young offenders – it was their first in-depth encounter with Shakespeare. It was also the first time prisoners were involved in a theatre production for the public.
Now, the results of the play, including rehearsals and post-production, have been immortalised in a documentary that will premiere internationally on Tuesday. The documentary also includes a second feature called Muse of Fire.
“Both Muse Of Fire and When You Hear My Voice are London Shakespeare Workout projects. For this second documentary, we have filmed prison segments in Belfast, Dublin and Berlin. The idea is to celebrate joy in friendship through the lens of Shakespeare’s humility,” Wall said.
Muse of Fire sees the participation of seven Oscar winners and a wide variety of internationally key players - Sir Ian McKellan, Dame Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Sir Ben Kingsley, John Hurt, Jeremy Irons and Buzz Luhrman muse alongside Jude Law, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Zoe Wannamaker, James Earl Jones, Brian Cox, Alan Rickman, John Leguizamo, Sir Michael Gambon and Ewan McGregor.
“Through the second documentary, Shakespeare’s language is shown as an effective common denominator for everyone and audience members will themselves be able to witness the restorative effect of literacy and an active promotion of confidence through a dedicated ‘will’ to dream,” Wall said.
During the Malta premiere, a feature by The Times photographer Darrin Zammit Lupi that was created purposely for the newspaper will also be shown. Wall says that there might be another surprise in the offing for the audience.
“There is the possibility that the young offenders will give a further taste of their vocational training. Should this idea work out, we will include material from Romeo and Juliet, Richard II and As You Like It and the opening from the When You Hear My Voice production, itself based on a verse written by a young offender in the YOURS Division and performed in a variety of languages, including Maltese.”
Wall also plans to include an original verse about the experience of prison drama written by a young offender at the Pentonville prison, upon which the main part of the Corradino Correctional Facility was modelled when built in 1860.
The project came about when Wall travelled to Malta as part of a European Prison Education Association Conference. Part of the conference involved leading a ‘Shakespeare Workout’ drama workshop at the Corradino Correctional Facility with 14 European educators and a collection of the young offenders.
Participants described the programme as “life-altering”, with each one of them reporting that they saw themselves differently after having taken part in the play.
The Bespoke Film Company and London Shakespeare Workout will present When You Hear My Voice on June 12 and 13 at St James Cavalier at 8 p.m. For reservations visit www.sjcav.org.