Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train

Having been lucky enough to score tickets to 'Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train's matinee show at Trafalgar Studios, a couple of us from IJP got the opportunity to be treated to a wonderful theatrical experience.   The production, written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and brought to life by Synergy Theatre Projects, was expertly performed under the direction of Esther Baker and a team of fine actors – some of whom were ex-offenders.

The prison drama explored the lives of two prisoners – Lucius & Angel - as they battled with their conscience, the crimes committed, and the possibilities of salvaging their souls through faith in God. The show throws open the doors to questions surrounding the criminal justice system and its failures, as well as the internal battle that rages in prisoners, lawyers and prison staff as they interact with each other and the system. Overall, the performances were phenomenal with dialogues tailored to make one laugh out loud and reflect at the same time.

More importantly, taking a step back from the plot and the hard-hitting dialogues, the show reinforces the value that artistic approaches can have in giving life to serious and often dry topics such as rehabilitation and the criminal justice system prompting dialogue amongst audiences and ex-offenders. And it can have consequences beyond the stage. One of the main aims of the Synergy Theatre Projects is to work with ex-offenders and turn them into exceptional actors, so they are providing prisoners with a way to ease back into life outside prison thus potentially contributing to a reduction in re-offending rates. IJP has a similar scheme where we train offenders & ex-offenders interested in the production aspects of film-making as well as equipping them with the skills required to confidently move forward.

Communication via creative avenues such as film and theatre creates opportunities not only to entertain, but also to inspire educate and question – in this case, it gave voice to the lives, thoughts and battles of all those interacting with the criminal justice system in different capacities. Anyone else seen great examples of the use of creative mediums that prompt discussions about the criminal justice system?

Vineetha A. George, Marketing Assistant, Inside Job Productions