Photo credit: TEA Films
O Brave New World is a 30-minute advocacy documentary about KPPL’s work with Shakespeare and women in prison. After The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy, Phyllida and Kate continued to work in HMP New Hall with alumnae of the Trilogy company, Rachel Conlon (Director of the York St John University Prison Partnership Project), and theatre practitioner Jordana Golbourn. The digital versions of all three Shakespeare productions formed the basis of sustained drama sessions that explored themes of the plays and inspired in-cell creative writing. The documentary O Brave New World describes this process in relation to The Tempest and is available to view on request.
In 2024 KPPL again collaborated in HMP New Hall on a project focussing on themes of domestic abuse in childhood using the film Herself which was directed by Phyllida, written by Clare Dunne and starred Clare and Harriet Walter. A 30-minute play, These Are The Voices, was created by the prisoners in response which was performed both in HMP New Hall by residents, and by Trilogy company alumnae at The Lowry, Salford as part of ACE’s conference, ‘Engaging Communities in Arts and Culture’ in 2025. KPPL continues to advocate for partnerships between education, theatre and criminal justice.