Unlock Drama’s Director, first started studying Applied Theatre in 2008 during her BA Honours in Drama. Rebecca received a 2:1 degree from Loughborough University in 2009. After graduating Rebecca completed two years volunteer work in the community with hard-to-reach groups such as: young people at risk of offending, recovering drug addicts, the homeless and ex-offenders.
Rebecca has seventeen years drama experience, nine years facilitating drama with hard-to-reach groups and has been facilitating theatre full-time in the Criminal Justice System for 8 years working with: young offenders, adult male and female prisoners and sex offenders.
In 2011, Rebecca began a Masters in Applied Theatre specialising in the Criminal Justice System at The Royal Central School of Speech of Drama in London (RCSSD). After graduating in 2012 Rebecca began an 18 month full time drama residency at HMPYOI Doncaster facilitating theatre with serving prisoners aged 18 plus. In 2014 Rebecca set up Unlock Drama and began facilitating projects across the prison estate. Rebecca now mainly focuses on project development and management, training, hosting placement students and visiting lecturing.
Zoe is an enthusiastic professional who has a degree in criminology and psychology, and a master's in social work. She is passionate about the support she offers to individuals she is working with, and continues to strive for equal opportunities for all.
Zoe first started to explore prison based drama prior to finishing her first degree, and has continued to promote and empower the fantastic work done by Unlock Drama since. The team provides a bespoke, individualised, accessible opportunity for all who engage which promotes the reintegration and rehabilitation of offenders, and other vulnerable groups.
Ruth has 25 years background as an IT consultant within the banking and insurance sectors. During this time, Ruth gained invaluable experience in the relationships and communication between user departments and the systems software implementation teams, during IT projects. Ruth’s career took a different turn, when after one of her children was diagnosed to be on the Autistic Spectrum, she became interested in developmental education. Ruth retrained as a teacher and worked in the special education sector for 10 years.
Ruth has always been passionate about enabling all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, life experiences or special needs, to reach their full potential.
Her role in the organisation is to liaise with Unlock Drama’s accountants and to ensure that the plan for Unlock Drama to reach a wider variety of participants both in the community and prison estate is fulfilled.
Conor is an entrepreneur and business owner. Through first-hand experience, he has developed web presence which show attention to detail and are fully representative of his businesses. Social media is an important aspect of any business, enabling an extensive audience to be reached.
Conor is very enthusiastic about making sure that the central message of unlocking the potential of all participants of Unlock Drama’s projects is portrayed via social media in an appropriate manner.
Beth is a specialist Applied Theatre drama facilitator with over eight years’ experience. Beth undertook an MA in Applied Theatre at RCSSD, specialising in the Criminal Justice System. Beth has worked for UD since 2018, on topics such as Mental Health and Psychoactive Substance Misuse at the following prisons: HMP Lindholme, HMP Guys Marsh, HMP Hewell, HMP Peterborough, HMP Send, HMPYOI Portland, HMYOI Swinfen Hall and HMP Bronzefield.
Beth enjoys using the Arts to work with socially excluded groups and understands the challenges and complex behaviour that can be present. Beth volunteered at Clean Break, working with female ex-offenders; she has also worked with youth offenders, those with poor mental health, those experiencing homelessness, and those with SEMH and SEND. Beth has facilitated arts-based projects in the UK and internationally, including with GLYPT, NCS The Challenge, and Underground Lights Community Theatre. Beth has done training in Forum Theatre.
Madelaine graduated with distinction in MA Applied Theatre from RCSSD in 2011. Since then she has worked in a wide variety of participatory settings, including prisons and pupil referral units. She has worked with UD since 2016 where she has delivered work on topics such as Substance Misuse and Violence Reduction at: HMP Wymott, HMP The Mount, HMP Hull, and HMP New Hall. In 2012, she was part of the ambitious theatre and music project at HMP The Mount with Rideout, Music In Prisons, the London Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the BBC Big Noise Radio series.
She has also delivered at HMP Littlehey with Synergy Theatre, and between 2011-13 worked in the community with ex-offenders through Only Connect, managing the members monthly open mic event. Alongside this, she has worked extensively in community settings with participants in recovery, those experiencing homelessness in arts settings/drop-in centres, and men with chronic mental health conditions. She was trained in Forum Theatre and Jokering by Cardboard Citizens. Her methodology is a strongly trauma informed approach, and draws on P.A.C.E. theory which focuses on the needs of the whole person, rather than their behaviour.
Unlock Drama has a pool of facilitators with Applied Theatre experience and qualifications or adequate relevant experience who are trained by Rebecca Boden or Lead Facilitators by working on-site as freelance Co-Facilitators. All staff complete necessary vetting and safeguarding training at institutions as and when required. Staff comply with health and safety regulations and adhere with each establishments rules and regulations.
