A critical examination of the use of drama with offenders in prison and on probation.

This thesis critically examines the potential benefit of using drama with offenders in prison and on probation. In recent years a range of interventions and alternatives to custody have been theoretically evaluated and discussed by various criminologists and sociologists. Despite an array of literature on these matters, the possibility of drama as an intervention has escaped the interest of researchers and publishing houses alike. This thesis aims to redress the balance in detailing the considerable amount of Drama Work being conducted in British prisons and probation centres, by companies and individual practitioners forming a chronology of such and critically examining the process and results. Through employing drama as a means of addressing offending behaviour, it is possible for Drama Work to play a part admittedly a small one, in combating recidivism. While proving such may be problematic this thesis sets out to test this theory drawing conclusions and making recommendations for the future of Drama Work in prison.

A Thesis submitted for examination for a PhD at Middlesex University.