Cell Outs – Traverse Theatre

Two ex-screws take to intimate interior of the thrust stage of Traverse 2 to provide a thought-provoking insight into the British prison system.

Glasshouse Theatre Company’s, Harriet Troup and Ella Church play themselves as graduates cajoled into the prison system on the promise of putting their arts backgrounds to good use in rehabilitation, only to find that barely six weeks later they are ‘lambs to the slaughter’ as fully qualified Prison Officers.

In a comedic twist the two friends are posted to prisons within waving distance, one to a male prison, the other a female, covering both bases as it were, and provided rich material for this production.

Set against a period of government cut-backs and lay-offs, the play takes us from initial recruitment through the ‘breakthrough graduate’ scheme to the six-week training period before the crash landing into the corridors and cells of the barely functioning system and lays bare the inherent racism, sexism and unsolvable issues which dominate the prison profession. 

High on humour and interspersed with clever devised songs, this is not so much a damning indictment as a playful slap on the wrist for the failings of the incarceration system. Clearly written with a view that if you didn’t laugh you would cry, perhaps understandable when trying to describe what is obviously a brutalising and dehumanising environment. Ironically, the most successful aspect of this piece were the moving verbal testimonies from other prison officers, which added much needs depth and texture to this two-hander.

The minimal set, costumes and lighting were somewhat underwhelming and did little to convey the prison environment. It would have been nice to see more prison elements and hear more of the prison soundscape.

The uneven, patchy nature of the piece is evidence of its devised upbringing. Unfortunately, there is no clear signature hand at work, and this ultimately turns the play into a series of sketches, which work up to a point, but become increasingly laboured.

Whilst there is no denying the quality of acting and the merit in both the subject matter and the purpose, what will live longest here is the dehumanised voices on tape searching but never finding the answers.

Running time – 1hrs 20mins

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 24th November 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★