Shakespeare in Prison empowers incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to reconnect with their humanity and that of others; to reflect on their past, present, and future; and to gain the confidence, self-esteem, and crucial skills they need to heal and positively impact their communities.

Talk to me about...

RICHARD III—IN PRISON: A Critical Edition, the book a team of SIP alums and staff are developing! (Link to a bunch of info: http://www.detroitpublictheatre.org/sip-richardiii-inprison)

Our case study of the 2016-17 season with the SIP women's ensemble, which examined each ensemble member's narrative identity development. (Link to a .pdf of the write up: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/558ccb03e4b0750606e2a303/t/5cec0a9dec212dc60a54826a/1558973086714/Shakespeare+in+Prison_2016-17+Study+Write+Up+copy.pdf)

The Shakespeare-based activity packs we've been sending to currently incarcerated ensemble members (Check 'em out and download if you want! http://www.detroitpublictheatre.org/sip-photos-1)

... and anything else you're interested in! Or that you think I'd be interested in! Let's talk!!

Frannie Shepherd-Bates is an accomplished prison theatre practitioner, director, educator, and grant writer. She is the founder and director of Shakespeare in Prison, Detroit Public Theatre's signature community program. This innovative eight-year-old initiative uses Shakespeare's works as a means of empowerment, skill-building, and identity development for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Frannie has directed many plays for southeast Michigan's professional theatres; she has also taught for and directed educational theatre programs for youth, including playwriting and Shakespeare performance.