A Just Act is a new theatre production created to engage its audiences in the issues affecting women offenders, the impact of short-term prison sentences and the alternatives to custody. During February and March 2010, it tours to four women’s prisons and is performed at a number of venues and events, including at London’s Probation offices, Crown Courts and at Clean Break’s Kentish Town centre, and for the Corston Coalition and Clinks manifesto launch.
Performed by a cast of former Clean Break students (women who have themselves been affected by the criminal justice system), the production is a lively, informative and powerful forum to examine the experience of women offenders.
Emma Crowe is part of the Royal Court Young Writers Super Group, has worked with Hampstead Theatre and First Light, and currently works with Hi8us South, a participatory media organisation in Limehouse, developing online narratives with young people around sexual health, gangs and other issues. She was also a semi-finalist in Channel 4’s The Play’s The Thing. Her research whilst writing A Just Act involved interviewing both magistrates and women affected by the criminal justice system.
