A sample of feedback from rehearsed reading at Menagerie Theatre Cambridge, July 22, The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. Feb 23 and Seven Dials Theatre London April 23.
I loved it. All four of us did. One of the friends I went with wrote the next day “It was fantastic theatre last night, I was most impressed”. Not only was it very funny and poignant, but I learnt more than I knew before [nothing] about playwrighting. The acting was terrific wasn’t it? What a group of talented [and well directed] people. I thought their very different characters were so well defined with only a couple of hours to do that. I felt as if I knew them all by the end and more than that, really wished them well. I cared about them.
Germaine H (member of the public.)
At the end of last month, I was lucky enough to attend a rehearsed reading of the play, Penned Up by Danusia Iwaszko. She asks the question: “Prisoners, should we lock them up and throw away the key?” It was a thought-provoking and emotional piece. I was amazed at how accurately the play portrayed how rehabilitation programmes can work with the right approach. For many in the audience I know the play was a real eye opener. The play revolves around a group of six inmates who join a ten week playwrighting course, mainly to get out of their cells for a couple of hours, and they are blown away by what they achieve. The script vividly highlights the individual difficulties of each inmate and their deep suspicion of authority, anger, frustration and severe lack of self confidence, it is no surprise tensions do boil over. The play graphically depicted this challenge. On release, prisoners must be provided with what many of us take for granted – a home, a job and an income. In too many situations this does not happen and the slippery slope back into criminality becomes a reality. Once again the play provided us with a vivid insight into this individual challenge. They have served their sentences and deserve an opportunity to become good citizens. After all it was Churchill who said: “In the heart of everyman is a jewel if only you can find it!”
Tim Passmore. Police & Crime Commissioner, Suffolk. Bury Free Press. March 10th 2023
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Danusia Iwaszko, absolutely amazing show tonight, you are an inspiration. Samantha N. Member of the public
I want to take my family in the future, it was great.
Geoffrey H.(Head of prison education.)
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I bloody loved it!! It was just excellent. I thought the characters really had an individual depth and contrasted well at the same time as being one whole unit. As always you have lots of really funny bits as well as those really strong emotional punches. I enjoyed their stories and the journey they all had together in the class, it all seemed to flow really well for me. I found Mike a bit shouty for the first parts but I thought maybe he's meant to be like that. That in itself made me ask myself what my preconceptions of prison life and the staff actually are, and where they come from (TV mostly I expect). My brother was in and out of prison a lot when I was little and I don't know that much about it because he's a lot older than me but although I knew he'd been in there I also couldn't imagine it, if you know what I mean, because I only know my cheeky, kind, over-the-top, bit of a rogue-type brother, and I couldn't match that up with the word "prisoner". The play makes you question things like that I think, and the point of the prisoners being human beings and more than just their crimes was really well done. It was obvious by the end but in a way that had sort of led me there without realising it. A developed connection I guess. The main feeling I've come to rest on about the play, how powerful it is just to give people a chance, to encourage them to be more than their situation. What they then choose to do after is up to them but you've given them a spark of hope that can nudge them down a different path and that is a massive gift they wouldn't otherwise have.
Dawn (published writer.)
Amazing and thought provoking. Sabine D. Member of the public
Absolutely loved it, I can’t wait to use it with my students
Becky J. Drama teacher
I just wanted to send an email about your fabulous play last night. It was such a great show. I hadn't expected it to be so funny, it was proper laugh out loud funny and warm and touching and I had a tear at the end too. Having been in and around prisons for a while now I thought it really rung true and gave an accessible, powerful insight to the life inside and the challenges people face in prison. The discussion afterwards was interesting. I wondered whether finding a way to share factual information about key issues with the audience (as part of the programme maybe?) might be a way to persuade prison reform type organisations to give you some money to help fund a tour. You could feature data on poor literacy skills in prison; known risk factors for recidivism (which Ben's story touched on with his dialogue about why he'd slipped back into crime, you could make more of that); disproportionate representation and harsher sentences of black offenders over white... there's lots of stuff that could help raise awareness with the public which might tip into fundable work if you formalise that information sharing.
Louise S. CEO Inside Justice (a charity founded by L.S. former producer director of BBC’s investigative programme Rough Justice.)
I really enjoyed Penned Up last night. Very engaging piece, funny and honest. Lovely to see an ex student from Conservatoire East West Suffolk College in the performance. Congratulations.
Helena R. Performing arts. Conservatoire EAST.
I’m looking forward to buying the published play, and will definitely be bringing some other people to see the play again. Congratulations. Julie J. (Former prison teacher.)
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Feedback From The Seven Dials London rehearsed reading.
I loved your play and its testament to your incredible writing and the amazing acting that I laughed and cried in equal measures. I truly believed in all the characters. With the teacher, it felt like you were on the stage. I want to be in your class, I'd learn loads and it must be a lot of fun. I was left wanting more and wanting to know more about the characters, which is definitely a good sign. I was willing everyone to do well, and you really captured their characters and stories. As you know, I'm on a mission to change people's views of prison and the people in prison. Your play needs to be out there to tell their story. And change government, prisons, and the general public’s opinions. I liked that there was music in between scenes. I wanted to clap and cheer along with the cast throughout the play. (I think this would have been easier with a larger audience.) I felt like I was on the journey with them. I also want the general public to know that there is a personal story and reasons why each person is in prison. I'm in awe of your talent. You are a fabulous teacher, and look at the amazing play you've written. As a family, we will come and see it, and I'll encourage others to see it too. Thank you for taking the class with Richard, he's benefitted so much from your teaching, guidance, and encouragement. He sites the course as the reason he reduced and now has come off his anti depressants. I'm so pleased I've met you and I'm very excited about what happens next.
Katheryn. (Mother of prisoner.)
Thank you Danusia for a fascinating insight into the world of drama workshops in prisons. Only a reading but very well acted and directed, laced with tension and humour. What could have been static kept a real momentum going. Music was appropriate and well used. Dialogues were biting, realistic with excellent use of comic put downs and moments of real tension. Characterisations were fascinating. We wanted to know more about them, but the prisoners were far from formulaic or one dimensional.
Martin P. Quaker and writer.
It was such a pleasure to meet you yesterday. I haven’t stopped thinking about Penned Up. I am lucky enough to see theatre on a regular basis because of my job and even though it was a ‘rehearsed reading’, it was truly the best thing I have seen in a long time. I feel really lucky to have seen it. Yourself and your cast were so lovely to work with as well, days like yesterday make my job worth it. The style of Penned Up is exactly the type of work I want to be doing; theatre that evokes raw emotions and makes you laugh whilst simultaneously delivering an actual message that is helping real people, is exactly the niche I want to be working in and I felt like I was somewhat kidding myself until I saw the piece yesterday. It re-inspired me. Obviously, having met you and seeing the incredible work you do, I would love to work with you in some capacity but I also appreciate you have your hands full at the moment trying to get Penned Up the success it deserves. So of course I would love to be on your radar for future projects, however in the meantime I would love to just stay in touch.
Kindest regards, Chay. Seven Dials Theatre London
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Just wanted to say thank you for last week. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I thought the actors were brilliant and the writing was fantastic. as I recognised a lot of those behaviours and little nuances in people I've met inside. I know you are still fine tuning things but it's in a good place for me. and I hope when you finish it you'll put on another show and if I'm able, I'll come to that too. Tyrone.
Ex prisoner and former member of a writing group when in prison.
Feedback from 1st rehearsed reading (scratch) at Hotbed New Writing Festival Menagerie Theatre.
Penned Up By Danusia Iwaszko at Hotbed New Writing Festival As part pf our dedication to supporting new work by regional writers, Hotbed hosted Danusia’s production of Penned Up on 16th July 2022. As part of the process leading to Hotbed, we offered up rehearsal space and support. The production was very well received by the audience and included a lively feedback session. It was also well received by our Producing team and we will now be talking with Danusia about how to support future development of piece as part of our Hotbed Legacy Programme. What was particularly interesting about Danusia’s play was the unusual perspective of a large cast (10 actors), along with a rarely explored subject of male incarceration – both of which were powerful to witness. The script itself was excellent – funny and touching, as well as dramatic and dynamic in its core form. We wish Danusia the best with future development of the piece, and will be supporting her with dramaturgical and producing support where we can.
Yours truly Paul Bourne. Artistic and Executive Director.
I just wanted to say how much we, myself and T.G. enjoyed the performance of Penned Up at The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds last night. As someone who is pretty hardened to stories of prisoners I wasn’t expecting to feel emotional and so touched by the play. But I was. I totally felt the journey of the story told and found it powerful, heart warming and also funny! Danusia Iwaszko, thank you for showing us your perspective.
Councillor K. P. Bury St Edmunds Town Council