BBC Radio 4 LW

Poetic Justice

Poetic Justice: Episode 1: Treadmill

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: History

Episode 1

Episode 1: Treadmill

Treadmill

BBC Radio 4 - Poetic Justice, Treadmill

At HMP Brixton, prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those at risk.

At HMP Brixton, prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those who may be at risk entering the vicious circle of crime and incarceration.

It may be surprising to discover that writing poetry is a popular activity among prisoners. 

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others. 

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims. 

Episode 1, Treadmill is recorded inside HMP Brixton, a busy South London prison for adult males. Prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those who may be at risk entering the vicious circle of crime and incarceration. 


Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler
A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Poetic Justice

Episode 1: Treadmill

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4