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Jack Brett Anderson at my post-show talk for HELD

What’s the most important lesson in a prison ‘education’? HELD is a hard-hitting new British prison drama exploring the broken lives of five inmates, including two young offenders (both played by Jack Brett Anderson) incarcerated for the first time and learning fast that there’s a price to pay for everything…

Originally two interlinked one-act plays, Walking and Dog City, HELD is written by Tina Jay, who has taught English and Creative Writing in a men’s prison. She has been working on HELD‘s development with director Richard Elson since 2011.

After yesterday’s matinee (10 June 2017) at the Tristan Bates Theatre, I hosted a Q&A with Tina, Richard, Jack and one of his co-stars, Jack Brett Anderson and Duran Fulton Brown. We also had insightful input from members of the audience, including a former prison governor and a probation officer.

For further production-related photos and show trailer, see also our coverage on MyTheatreMates.

The London premiere of HELD continues at the Tristan Bates Theatre until 17 June 2017.

Interval video

Q&A photos

Event photography by Peter Jones.