Documenting the voices from inside

In the wake of the success of a theatrical production put up by young offenders at the Corradino Correctional Facility, a new documentary - screened at St James Cavalier on June 12 and 13 - will follow the process of this collaborative endeavour, which aimed to give a renewed sense of hope to the international batch of young inmates.

Entitled When You Hear Their Voice, the documentary is directed by Natasha Serlin,  a founding member of The Bespoke Film Company, who has made films for a number of major British broadcasters - including the BBC, Channel 4 and MTV - as well as international organisations ranging from Google to the United Nations.

"This documentary allows us an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of a group of amazing young men from all over the world; they gain the ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings and indeed the will to do so through the project itself," Serlin said.

"We hope they stand as positive role models for others who could also benefit from an opportunity to express themselves and develop their talents."

When You Hear My Voice, the original theatrical production - which played at St James Cavalier last February - was directed by British director Bruce Wall, as part of a collaboration between the London Shakespeare Workout and Corradino, in line with the prison's newly-instated programmer for restorative justice. 

The youths participating in the programme range between 18 to 25 years of age, and come from countries as diverse as Britain, Estonia and Malta.

For the performance, they were joined by two British performers, Dame Harriet Walter and Dame Janet Suzman.

The premiere of the documentary will also feature a screening of The Muse of Fire, which investigates the perception and legacy of William Shakespeare by people around the world, as well as several decorated actors, including Dame Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes.

The shows start at 20:00. Tickets are at €10. Bookings: 21 223200, [email protected].