Charged 1 & 2, Soho Theatre | reviews, news & interviews
Charged 1 & 2, Soho Theatre
Charged 1 & 2, Soho Theatre
Women and children in jail are theme of inspired play series
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Child-traffic upon the stage: Danielle Vitalis and Samantha Pearl in 'Dream Pill'Sheila Burnett
Facts first. In the last decade the number of women in prison has increased by 60 per cent: 63 per cent are in prison for non-violent offences. Between 2002 and 2009 there were 55 self-inflicted deaths by women prisoners; in 2008, there were 12,938 reported incidents of self-harm. Goodness knows how many more went unreported. Too few plays reflecting the reality of women’s lives appear on our stages - only 17 per cent of productions in English theatre are by female playwrights.
Facts first. In the last decade the number of women in prison has increased by 60 per cent: 63 per cent are in prison for non-violent offences. Between 2002 and 2009 there were 55 self-inflicted deaths by women prisoners; in 2008, there were 12,938 reported incidents of self-harm. Goodness knows how many more went unreported. Too few plays reflecting the reality of women’s lives appear on our stages - only 17 per cent of productions in English theatre are by female playwrights.
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