Case Studies
Unlock Drama CIC’s real-world impact is best told through the voices of our participants, partners, and the transformative projects we deliver.
Our work in both custodial and community settings demonstrates the true power of rehabilitative and preventative theatre — changing lives, strengthening communities, and reducing the risk of offending and reoffending.
In this section, we showcase a variety of our projects across prisons, probation, youth services, education, and wider community settings. Each case study highlights how Unlock Drama’s dynamic, trauma-informed approach fosters confidence, improves mental health and wellbeing, and encourages pro-social behaviours.
From weekly drop-ins at Milton Keynes YMCA, to targeted prevention work with young people at Recharge Telford, to inclusive sensory drama at Positive Community Care, our projects are tailored to the needs of the individuals and organisations we serve.
Through Applied Theatre, we tackle pressing issues such as substance misuse, mental health awareness, violence reduction, gang culture, restoring family ties, and building emotional literacy.
Our work spans:
- Secure Children’s Homes / Secure Accommodation Network (SAN)
- Schools (Primary, Secondary, PRU, SEND, SEMH)
- Probation Services and Approved Premises
- Community Settings supporting individuals with social, emotional, and mental health needs
These case studies demonstrate the breadth and impact of our practice — and the direct role Unlock Drama CIC plays in supporting rehabilitation, reintegration, and crime prevention.
Unlock Drama CIC: unlocking potential, creating change.
Here are some recent Case Studies of our work:
Unlocking Confidence and Connection in Secure Children’s Homes
Overview Unlock Drama delivers specialised, trauma-informed theatre projects to young people in Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs), many of whom face complex emotional, behavioural, and mental
Unlock Drama’s Role in Health and Justice
Overview Unlock Drama delivers trauma informed, theatre-based interventions that sit at the intersection of health and justice. Our work supports individuals in custody who are
Supporting Neurodivergent Participants and Neurodiversity Leads in Custody
Overview Unlock Drama has been working in partnership with Neurodiversity Support Leads across the prison estate to design and deliver tailored theatre-based rehabilitation projects for
For more impact and projects visit our blog:
Unlock Drama’s recent violence reduction project at a prison has shown profound impacts, opening new pathways of understanding and empathy among participants. A powerful testimonial from one of our participants illustrates the transformative experience:
Unlock Drama’s engagement with participants on probation emphasises rehabilitation, successful reintegration, and reducing recidivism through the expressive power of theatre. Our tailored drama projects provide essential skills and therapeutic benefits, fostering community integration and personal growth.
We are thrilled to share the achievements and feedback from our first neurodiversity-focused workshop at HMP Elmley. This ground-breaking initiative was designed to empower neurodiverse individuals through the performing arts…
Participant feedback
“The fact it could happen during covid speaks volumes for the prison and Unlock Drama.”
“I was kind of questioning support from officers recently but this has blown that out the window.”
“Brings out more confidence in me.”
“It’s a very therapeutic way to get stuff off your chest and past experiences.”
“I think about it more because there could other support in the jail that could help you with different stuff.”
‘Gives you a chance to express yourself.’
– Participants feedback from HMPYOI Swinfen Hall
“My confidence has grown massively; I want to show the prison that I am engaging in things that are offered to me as I normally keep myself to myself”
– Restoring Family Ties project at HMP Lindholme
“[Theatre] it just gets people more engaged and together, closer together, it can only do well”
– Substance Misuse project at HMPYOI Portland
“This project has given me self-confidence, I never thought I would play a role and now I’m doing it front of you and anyone who’s in the room”
– Gang Culture project HMYOI Aylesbury
“This project has built my confidence and helped me address some of my own mental health issues”
– Mental Health project at HMP Send
“I’ve noticed changes in myself I’m less angry and more understanding”
– Substance Misuse project at HMP Guys Marsh
“It helped to express my views on prison to help rehabilitate and show prison life to make it better”
– Safety project at HMP Exeter
“This project has improved my mental health and confidence. It provided increased freedom in a situation where there is little. I have been able to talk to other people about normal events, set different opinions outside of my family. It has made me more outgoing. I feel more comfortable around other people”
– Social Prescribing sessions at HMPYOI Swinfen Hall
“This project can help rehabilitate prisoners because normally you wouldn’t think of consequences why you or someone else came into prison. It helps to put yourself in their shoes, understanding lots of possible reasons why people have depression, difficulty making friends, barriers etc.”
– Alcoholism project PIPE Unit HMP Wymott
“It’s helped divert my energy into the appropriate space”
– Substance Misuse project at HMP New Hall
“I learnt how to detect my own internal and external signs of mental health”
– Mental Health project HMP Lindholme
