His latest work, God Don’t Live on a Council Estate, plays on largely autobiographical themes and features the harrowing tale of Danny Boy, a man who has lost his wife to suicide and is increasingly confused by the circumstances leading up to it. Returning after an extended break abroad he visits his grandfather (Dudley Sutton), a notorious rogue whose tyrannical presence is felt and known throughout the estate in which he lives and from whom he feels pressure to continue the corrupt line of command. As the story unravels, we become aware of the complicated circumstances that have led to the strange dynamic between Danny Boy, his late wife and his best friend. A web of manipulation, sexual abuse and struggle for power unfolds and Danny is left to face the devastating truth about the past.
The play is interesting in both its clever interweaving of the multiple themes that are so prevalent across the criminal justice system and in the refreshing accuracy with which the acting portrays those themes. We know through our own experience of the IJP Production Training Scheme that these issues are common when working with service users across the sector, and Stalham’s depiction of them is yet another striking example of how the media can be used to demonstrate, educate and communicate in a way that is not possible via traditional means.
The new community interest company that Stalham has established, Art Saves Lives, is dedicated to finding space for and giving a platform to any artist, writer or musician that is for whatever reason marginalised by society. With the aim of raising awareness of the talents and passions for the arts that exist from within the margins, the company works to break down doors and disseminate stereotypes. For anyone not already exposed to the issues raised in God Don’t Live on a Council Estate, it is impactful enough to do just that -making the audience question the standard assumptions about a very specific world by representing it from an insider's point of view. When overcoming stereotypes, illustrating the general through the specific is a powerful and effective tool and at IJP we firmly believe that media, whether it's film, theatre or otherwise, has the capacity to do this in groundbreaking ways.
Louise Brown, Inside Job Productions
The IJP Production Training Scheme is designed for offenders nearing the end of their sentence, providing valuable work experience in an engaging media environment. The scheme helps to re-engage trainees with the work environment and build vital confidence skills, aiding the difficult transition from release to resettlement.
