Synergy Theatre Project: Challenging Perceptions and Empowering Ex-offenders
Breaking societal stereotypes, the Synergy Theatre Project brings prisoners, ex-prisoners, and young people at risk of offending into the spotlight, challenging how society views them and impacting how they perceive themselves.
The Play That Highlights Compassion within Prisons
The Synergy Theatre Project’s presentation, Lifers, is a thought-provoking play about ageing and dignity within the prison system. In one poignant scene, a prison guard quietly assists an older prisoner against regulations, sparking conversations about humanity, ethics and empathy within prisons.
Director Esther Baker, who founded Synergy Theatre Project in 2000, explains that the play was commissioned to raise public awareness about ageing in prisons. Its moral complexity addresses issues of human rights and ethics within prison systems.
Addressing the Rise in Older Prisoners Through Theatre
Reports indicate a dramatic increase in the number of older prisoners in the UK, with the number of inmates over 50 nearly tripling between 2003 and 2023. Baker believes theatre can help the public better understand the lives and experiences of prisoners and ex-offenders, humanizing them beyond the statistics on a page. Through the transformative power of live performance, Synergy Theatre Project aims to impact hearts and minds.
From an Individual Initiative to a Leading Arts Charity
Since its inception following Baker’s experiences teaching drama in prisons during the 1990s, the Synergy Theatre Project has grown into a prominent arts charity. Today, the organization has eight permanent staff members and receives funding from Arts Council England and the London Community Foundation.
Rehabilitation Through Theatre
Twice a year, the charity produces major public-facing performances featuring ex-offenders. The aim is to foster a greater understanding of those within the criminal justice system. These performances are often followed by panel discussions featuring ex-prisoners and criminal justice experts.
Beyond engaging audiences, Synergy Theatre Project runs theatre-based training programmes for prisoners, ex-prisoners, and young people at risk. The charity uses creativity to build confidence and offer practical skills that can lead to employment within the creative industries. Many who participate in the charity’s courses have gone on to work in theatre, film, and television.
Success Stories from the Synergy Theatre Project
Among the many success stories is Ric Renton, a former inmate who learned to read and write in prison. After his release, he attended one of Synergy’s playwriting courses for ex-offenders and has since written and performed in a six-part BBC One drama. He credits Synergy with helping him access opportunities in the arts and media world, stating: “they take the hopeless and give them hope.”
Another participant, Daniella Henry, discovered Synergy through an acting workshop while in prison. After her release, she immediately joined a Synergy production, which she says gave her purpose and helped her reconnect with people outside of the prison environment. She’s now meeting with casting directors and agents, hoping to secure more acting work.
Looking Towards the Future
With juvenile reoffending rates currently at 34.2%, the charity’s work with young people is increasingly important. Employing ex-prisoners as facilitators on youth projects, they hope to break down barriers and build trust. The Synergy Theatre Project plans to tour Lifers around the UK in 2026 and revive another play in collaboration with Brixton House theatre in south London.
