Charlie's letter

At the recent PAN European Conference in Skanderborg, Denmark, Charlie Ryder - a former prisoner currently working with the Anne Peaker Centre for Arts in Criminal Justice, UK - presented a performance of his devised piece "Prison". This is the true story about the 8 months he served as a political prisoner, told using a variety of theatrical devices: puppets, masks, physical theatre, silences, poetry, visual art and dance supported by powerful music.

"Hi Alan
... Just to update you on some of the doors that PAN opened for me. A couple of weeks ago I gave a talk on the art of forgiveness in Belgium at an event organised by Agnes (Rammant - Peeters) in Art without Bars. This was very warmly received and a great experience which I will be returning to work with some of the participants I met as well as contributing ideas to Art without Bars which were of use to their development.

I have sent a poem done by a prisoner in Manchester to the artist in Denmark who does big paintings; he loves the poem and is now doing a picture as a collaboration.

I have also got Marlene (Åkerlund Midtgaard) to write a piece on the presentation she did on the art of prisoners children as that is a future theme for the magazine.

Now the latest and most moving part of this was on Wed I went to Mountjoy Prison and St Pats (Ireland) to perform my play "Prison"? Before I performed to the younger prisoners the teachers were concerned that they wouldn't sit with it and they may walk out. There wasn't a sound through the silence and this is the feedback I got from them as they wrote it.

"I saw charlies play today and I thought it was good he was acting out his experience in prison and how he felt when he first went inside. I thought the play was funny and it was good to watch and I think it will be good for other people to wach him. I thought the bit when he was silent was kind of awkward because I didn't know what to do he looked like he was in a different place"

Paul Douglas

"I thought the play was a bit weird but it was funny and it was intresting. I liked Charlie I think he done it well. the man a blue peter badge and a can of coke"

Michael Connors

"I think he has grate currage to do something like that because I wouldn't he had a bad experience inside the English prison he did not no whats going on around him when he got out he kep his head down and he is showing everyone the experience he had the show I think is gas fair balls"

Peter Donaghue

Then I performed the next day at the medical unit and this was 2 prisoners' feedback:
"just to say it was an eye opener. Never seen anything like it before and probably wont again good to see someone whos been inside out there putting prisoners and prisons in a good light for a change and doing something positive good to have met you ye are a really nice fella hope to keep in touch all the best"

jay m-joy 2009

"alright Charlie boy yeah just to say it was something else to watch you in action. It was very good to see all the different ways and forms of acting. And I have to admit when you were explaining it to me the first day. I thought to my self "umm that sounds a bit strange but after watching it I have to say it was really good keep up all the good work you do with prisoners it is good that we have people like you to give us a voice. Nice to have met you, till the next time take it easy Charlie"

steo wall m-joy 2009

"it has only been a few short weeks since we first met in denmark . Now you are in Dublin visiting mountjoy prison. We knew straight away you had to make this visit your sense of purpose and gentle way was so obvious it just had to be shared . The boys in mountjoy and st patricks have had the benefit of your first hand experiences in this great one man show you put on. They really responded and identified with everything you said. They told us they admire you and think your "deadly" We should get more of this. Best of luck with your voyage. You really are making a difference " lots of best love/luck

Eleanor Jones (art teacher, Mountjoy Prison)

* Slightly edited for clarity (AC)