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Campaigns"I watched people grow (myself included) in confidence, experience trust, belief and commitment. Each week was a magical experience."
"I've learnt I can do something I put my mind to. I'm going to use this in as many ways as possible."
Telephone Box Performance Company specialises in working with offenders, using drama as a vehicle for positive change. They received an Exeter Positive Steps Fund grant of £4,750 to run a project with offenders.
Rehab 13 involved the Company working in collaboration with Devon & Cornwall Probation Service and ENDAS to run a series of drama workshops in Exeter, culminating in a performance at the Phoenix Arts Centre in the City. The aim was to work positively with offenders with issues such as drug or alcohol dependency, to raise their confidence and self esteem and improve their future employment prospects.
Participants wrote, rehearsed and performed a production which incorporated their own experiences of rehabilitation, using them in their performances of fictional characters. By building their confidence and developing new skills which they gained in the artificial world of the production, the participants were able to return to the "real" world with higher level aspirations and ambitions. One of the performers has gone on to enrol for a BTec course in Drama, another intends to volunteer with local animal charities and plans to undergo training to enable him to work in this area and a third has begun work as a volunteer with Telephone Box.
For people who have spent so long out of work and are used to spending large parts of their day taking drugs, or obtaining money to buy drugs, the fact that they are now considering their options in relation to employment and training is a massive change.
"My next step is hopefully to get a job."
"It's ironic it was rehab and based on the alcohol, drug scene. I have experienced them both, but never felt as high as I did with this."
"I do believe this could be the making of any of us on the course. At first we were all nervous and apprehensive and the majority of us had never done anything like this before. I never thought I could do this but I was wrong."
" I've learnt to communicate better and to feel more at ease with people."
"I have had my key worker at Progress to Work ask if I want to do drama as she
said I was good enough."
"I though it was absolutely brilliant - I can't believe it was me!"
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