A Proposal for Resisting Darkness — Clean Break

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A Proposal for Resisting Darkness

Written by Yasmin Joseph in collaboration with HMP Downview Theatre Company
Directed by Anna Herrmann
15 January 2024 – 15 January 2025
Written by Yasmin Joseph in collaboration with HMP Downview Theatre Company
Directed by Anna Herrmann

Available to listen to for free on Clean Break's Knowledge Hub

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A Proposal for Resisting Darkness is overall, an uplifting play, however there are some themes which some people might not want to engage with, so we have created a self-care guide which includes content notices

Download the self-care guide

A Proposal for Resisting Darkness

15 January 2024 – 15 January 2025

“We will always be too loud for a world that never intended on listening to us. But we’ll speak all the same.”

The malevolent beast Darkness has taken the voices of all women on earth, but a group of magical women in the clouds create their own proposal for resisting Darkness's power. Will they succeed or will Darkness silence them for good?

A Proposal for Resisting Darkness was created with a group of women at HMP Downview and playwright Yasmin Joseph during a series of workshops. The play was the outcome of Clean Break’s participation in Inspiring Futures, a research project involving leading arts in criminal justice organisations and the University of Cambridge and led by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance. A Proposal for Resisting Darkness was originally directed by Anna Herrmann and first performed by HMP Downview Theatre Company inside the prison in 2022.

To extend the reach of this abstract yet relatable play, A Proposal for Resisting Darkness has been adapted into an audio drama, originally broadcast across the prison estate of England and Wales on National Prison Radio and now available online on Clean Break’s Knowledge Hub.

With thanks to The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, Clinks, University of Cambridge, and Arts Council England for their support.  

This is a Clean Break production in association with Prison Radio Association

Cast and Creatives

Inside This Box

Yasmin Joseph
Writer

An illustration of 6 magical women in the clouds, with the title 'A proposal for resisting darkness by Yasmin Joseph in collaboration with HMP Downview theatre company'

HMP Downview Theatre Company
Collaborators

a headshot of Anna Herrmann

Anna Herrmann
Director

Lisa-Marie Ashworth

Lisa-Marie Ashworth
Cast

BLANK

Shona Babayemi
Cast

TerriAnn Cousins
Cast

Polly Frame
Cast

Jade Small
Cast
Maya Ellis
Producer

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