Introduction to Theatre in Criminal Justice Settings

The day will be an introduction to the work of two of the leading organisations in this field: Clean Break and Geese Theatre Company.

Anna Herrmann, Artistic Director/Joint CEO at Clean Break and Andy Watson MBE, Artistic Director/CEO of Geese are long-standing members of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance and are regular visiting lecturers on a range of Applied Theatre under-graduate and post-graduate courses. With a combined track record of 45 years with these Companies, this training day will give participants a unique insight into the successful approaches of Clean Break and Geese in both Pr*son and community settings.

Through a practical learning setting involving drama and theatre exercises, group work and discussion, participants will:

• learn about the companies different working practices
• understand the principles and theory underpinning their work
• explore best practice in this field

If you would like to attend this training in Manchester instead of London, we have an alternative date coming up in Manchester in November 2025. Book here.

Free spaces for people with lived experience

A limited number of bursary places are available to anyone who has direct personal (not professional) experience of the criminal justice system.

To apply for these, please write explaining your interest in the training event to [email protected] marking your email with BURSARY REQUEST in the subject heading no later than four weeks before the training date.

About the Facilitators

Anna Herrmann is Artistic Director of Clean Break. She has been working in the field of theatre and social change for over thirty years, specialising in theatre and participation in the UK and abroad. She joined Clean Break as Head of Education in 2002, becoming Joint Artistic Director/Joint CEO in 2018. As Joint Artistic Director she has directed Through This Mist (co-directed with Róisín McBrinn), Sweatbox (national tour and film), and Not Pretty Like The Rainbow (national tour). In July 2020 Anna was elected as Co-chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, stepping down in July 2022.

Andy Watson trained in Paris at the Lecoq School of Mime and Physical Theatre, joining Geese Theatre Company in 1997 as an actor/groupworker, and becoming Artistic Director / CEO in 2003. He was appointed MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours List for Services to the Arts in the Criminal Justice System.

If you have any access requirements you would like us to be aware of, please contact [email protected] and let us know.

Open to participants of any gender.

Ticket Refunding Policy

We understand that sometimes circumstances change and you may not be able to attend our training sessions after booking.  

Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds to any of our training sessions once a ticket has been booked.  

If you can no longer attend a session you booked on to you can: 

• Edit your booking, to transfer your ticket to someone else by changing your ticket details. Read more from Eventbrite here. 
• Enquire about moving your ticket to a different time/date, depending on availability. 

If we cancel or postpone a training session, we will always offer you the option to rebook or refund your ticket. 

Please contact us through Eventbrite, or at [email protected] 

Host or Publisher Clean Break