Back to Afghanistan

I’m in Afghanistan again! It is now four years since I was here. About time for a return! I am going back to Herat to work with members of Simorgh Theatre for a project in the women’s prison.

Based on our first experience presenting a show in the prison back in 2011, Bond Street Theatre is now developing a creative program specifically for the women in prison – a physical theater-based psychosocial empowerment program! This year-long initiative to bring creative workshops to the women will use theater as a rehabilitative tool to process and heal traumatic experiences, encourage self-expression, build self-esteem, develop communication and leadership skills and the motivation and ability to better manage their lives both inside and outside prison. This kind of program has never before been done in prison in Afghanistan. It's an exciting venture. We will discover and develop as we go! 

Everyone we’re in contact with (including the authorities) are very positive to the proposed program, and based on our prior experience, the women welcome this activity.

Together with Joanna Sherman, I will help get things started for a month and after that the girls of Simorgh take over to keep the program going. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining, continuing drama group and lay the groundwork for similar programs in other prisons. 

We will see how things go! Stay tuned for updates!