Associate Artist Jason York
November-December 2024, we ran the fifth year of our Winter Show for Families Project, SHINE. Our cast at HMP Springhill worked with the Kestrel team, including playwright Molly Taylor (Almeida Theatre, Stratford East) to create a brand new show for families in four weeks - “One Cactus Short of Christmas”.
It was our fifth collaboration too with our friends at The Irene Taylor Trust, who worked with a group for two weeks to compose, record and perform original music and songs for the show.
The company performed four shows, one to prison staff, one for residents, one for external guests and the final show for families, including many of their own children.
Cast Feedback
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“The first week of Kestrel you’re all a bit shy, and then every day you kind of just do something that brings you out of your shell more and more - and I think every time someone comes out of their shell, everyone gets closer as a group. And in the end we were so close, we don’t care what we look like, we’re having a laugh, let’s carry on doing it - and make it the best that we can”
Performer
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Everyone saw that I wasn't… up for it and you all had your own input... saying, no, get your ass up and do it. But then I was watching everyone else realising - actually, everyone's got their own obstacle that they're getting over. And they’re getting better at it. So I might as well just give it my all as well. So I think everyone's confidence and everyone's ability of finding themselves helped me become a better person in the whole thing as well. So I'm grateful for all of you lot, you know, like appreciate it. You lot as well. I think everyone just really helped each other come out of their shell, and become a better person in the whole thing. "
Performer
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When I first come, I thought, this ain't acting, this is just games. This is really good. We were just fucking about! When it hit the serious bit, I was like, shit. Now I don't want to do that. Now I don't want to do it any more. Playing characters and that. But sitting here today, I really enjoyed it. Because it's pushed me through places I'd never gone before, do you know what I mean? It's took me there. And if you don't open doors, you don't know what's behind them.
Performer
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After being in jail for so long - it's nice to be around normal people and get a touch of reality again. It's nice that I see the good in people again, by being around normal people like yourself. Even though we’ve done this play, our lives are mental, we’ve all done fucked up shit...It would be nice to meet up in five years time and see where all our lives have gone. Where we all went after this. Because we're all good people.
Performer
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I think you’re all wonderful people I do. Because you don't only open up hidden talents from people - you also promote change by doing that. And we all need change in our lives. I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to do it again.
Performer
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It’s been challenging but I wanted to do it, I wanted to prove to my kids that I’m not this ‘serious man’. When you're on the outside, you have to be this serious man - something to look up to, you know. But I wanted to show that… I can be someone different. And just prove it to my kids.
Performer