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Since 1987, Geese Theatre Company has been at the forefront of arts in criminal and social justice settings. The company is renowned for its ability to engage with some of the most disengaged populations within the prison system. We create innovative projects and performances, working with diverse participants with multiple and complex needs, improving wellbeing, rehabilitation and recovery.

Check out some of the significant highlights from our history below:

1987

First performance

Geese’s first ever performance at Rolfe Street Probation Centre, West Midlands.

1989

National Arts and Crime Conference

Geese hosts the national Arts and Crime Conference – including performances by Geese, Clean Break and Motionhouse, with a keynote address from Ian Benson, Chief Education Officer for HM Prison Service.

1994

BBC Broadcast

‘Behind the Mask: a week in Risley prison with Geese Theatre Company’ is broadcast on BBC2.

1996

Second European Conference on Theatre and Prisons

Geese co-hosts the Second European Conference on Theatre and Prisons at Manchester University with TiPP and the Unit for Arts and Offenders, with a keynote speech from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, Judge Stephen Timmins.

1998

Interactive Learning Bafta

Geese wins the first ever Interactive Learning BAFTA for a CD-ROM version of their prison performance Lifting the Weight.

2001

Butler Trust Certificate

Geese awarded a Butler Trust Certificate for an innovative offending behaviour programme in partnership with HMP Maidstone.

2002

First Publication Geese Theatre Handbook

First publication of the Geese Theatre Handbook by Waterside Press, which is now in its second edition.

2003

Arts Council England

Geese invited to become an Arts Council “Regularly Funded Organisation” for the first time.

2003

Bulgaria

The British Council commission Geese to deliver a project exploring human trafficking in partnership with Theatre Tsvete in Bulgaria

2005

Azerbaijan

The British Council commission Geese to deliver a project in a women’s prison in Baku, Azerbaijan, exploring human rights and the challenges of resettlement.

2008

New premises

Geese moves to their current premises in Moseley from Midlands Arts Centre, which had been home to the company for 14 years.

2009

A Look Inside

Geese host “A Look Inside – 21 years of innovative arts practice in Criminal Justice” attended by over 200 delegates

2009

Royal Society for Public Health Arts & Health Award

Geese awarded the Royal Society for Public Health Arts & Health Award for their commitment to the mental wellbeing of people in prisons.

2010

How Safe is your Sport?

Geese co-hosts the “How Safe is your Sport?” conference with Coventry Sports Foundation, supported by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, showcasing a performance exploring safeguarding in sport, and attended by over 200 CEOs of sport governing bodies.

2013

Royal Society for Public Health Arts & Health Award

Geese awarded the Royal Society for Public Health Arts & Health Award for a second time.

2014

Australia

Geese invited to Brisbane, Australia by Griffith University to deliver a two-day masterclass, facilitate a series of workshops for students and present the keynote address at the inaugural Arts in Correction conference.

2015

Staging Recovery

With initial funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Geese establishes the Staging Recovery ensemble. Ongoing support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The Backstage Trust has enabled the ensemble to continue to create powerful and engaging performances.

2017

MBE, Andy Watson

Andy Watson, Geese’s Artistic Director/CEO, is awarded an MBE for his Services to the Arts in the Criminal Justice System.

2018

30 Years

Geese celebrates its 30th birthday with a series of public events exploring different aspects of the work, including Arts and Minds (their work in forensic mental health settings) and The Art of Recovery (their work in substance misuse and recovery).

2019

South Africa

Geese invited to Cape Town, South Africa, to present a keynote address at a criminal justice conference, to work in the community and in Pollsmoor Prison.

2020

Covid-19 Pandemic

As a result of the global pandemic, Geese moves a number of projects and performances online and develops two collaborative film projects with Staging Recovery, local community groups and prisons across the UK: “Reach In Out” and the follow-up “Reach In”. We are incredibly grateful to all those who supported us through this time.

2022

South Africa Exchanges

Funded by the British Council, Geese embarks on a collaborative exchange with the University of Cape Town and Second Chance Theatre Company involving a series of reciprocal visits.

Our Vision & Mission

What we are striving to achieve

Vision

To create safe, crime-free communities and for the arts to be recognised as a powerful vehicle for individual and social change.

Mission

To use theatre and drama to enable choice, personal responsibility and change, amongst individuals who have offended, other vulnerable or marginalised groups, and those who work with them.

Our Values

Our core values
shape everything we do

Responsibility

We support and encourage the notion of personal responsibility.

Belief in change

We uphold and promote a belief in the potential and possibility of individual change.

Rigour

Every aspect of our work is grounded in robust evidence and theory to ensure the highest quality.

Artistic Excellence

We strive to develop and deliver theatre and drama practice of the highest quality to people and places with the least engagement in the arts.

Innovation

We are continually developing new performances, projects and services for new audiences, offering alternative approaches to reducing offending.

Partnership

We aim to create an ethos of collaboration and partnership, which values contributions from all members, employees, partners and service users in order that our work has the greatest impact.

Inclusion

Geese aims to treat all individuals with respect and to approach each other and those we work with in an inclusive and non-judgemental manner.

Meet the team

Our strong administrative team ensures the smooth running of all our projects and our delivery team consists of our practitioners, all of whom are actor-facilitators, supported by our Participation and Inclusion Manager. The company is governed by a seven-strong Board of Trustees.

Claire

Board Member

Clark

Board Member

Iain

Secretary

Kam

Board Member

Kobina

Chair

Pippa

Board Member

Selwyn

Board Member

Andrea

Participation and Inclusion Manager

Andy

Artistic Director / CEO

Becky

Practitioner

Daniel

Senior Practitioner

Dave

Senior Practitioner

Emma

Practitioner Team Manager

Georgia

Business Development and Marketing Officer

Liz A

Director of Finance and Operations

Liz B

Senior Practitioner

Lou

Director of Programmes

Ros

Director of Funding and Partnerships

Have more questions?

Contact us if you’d like to find out more about commissioning a project with Geese.

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