27 September 2018

Reformed Criminals Put on a Show

Submitted by: Zane
Reformed Criminals Put on a Show

Mission (I’m) Possible is a compelling live theatre performance created and performed by Pollsmoor inmates under the auspice of the “Second Chance Theatre Project”, a collaborative arts and social justice initiative.

The project was introduced by NICRO and through a partnership with the Department of the Correctional Services and together with UCT Associate Professor Veronica Baxter from the University of Cape Town’s Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies (CTDPS) endeavour to challenge the public’s perception of criminals. The staging of the production is done in partnership with the Cape Town International Convention (CTICC) who came on board as a venue sponsor as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.

This intimate, theatre production provides a unique glimpse into the lives of prison inmates. Mission (I’m) Possible, which highlights the dreams and aspirations of inmates and demonstrates that each is more than the crime that he or she has committed.

“The performers are goal oriented and firm in their belief that they have a real future beyond the prison walls as they commit to returning to their communities as contributing individuals.” - says Venessa Padayachee, Advocacy and Lobbying Manager of NICRO.

The free event will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 28 September and Saturday, 29 September, 2018, as part of a two-day event which will also feature an art exhibition showcasing art works by inmates and former offenders.

Mission (I’m) Possible follows on the success of The Making of a Criminal Part 1 and Part 2, which took to the stage amidst much acclaim in 2016 and 2017. The 2018 production, devised and directed by Veronica Baxter, Chiedza Chinhanu and the cast, once again uses theatre as a healing tool and a rehabilitation strategy to offer inmates a meaningful life after prison and to facilitate successful reintegration.

NICRO endeavours to challenge guests to see offenders as members of our society and to acknowledge that society has a vital role to play in the rehabilitation process.

NICRO CEO, Soraya Solomon, underscores the crucial role of both civil society and ordinary members of the community in breaking the cycle of crime and violence in South Africa. “We cannot reduce the high levels of crime and violence in our country without every citizen’s support to ensure that we find solutions to this daunting challenge. Supporting former offenders to turn around their lives, walk away from further crime and return to society as an asset rather than a threat, is a very workable and effective way of doing just this,” she points out.

Hoping to raise R15 000 to assist with the costs of the production, a campaign has been created on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy to appeal to the public to support the cause.

Funds raised by the BackaBuddy campaign will be used for the following:

Healthy meals and refreshments at rehearsal space and performance venue
Promotional film production and editing
Costumes for the performances
Some work material: personal journals / scrapbooks and some stationary for the creative process!

Support the campaign by donating to Nicro here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/mission-im-possible

Tickets to the performance can be booked through Quicket here:
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/57945-mission-im-possible/

Visit the event Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/278275886122985/

Contactable References:
Natasha Meyer (Nicro) 021 462 0017 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Zane Groenewald (BackaBuddy)| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.