In Latin, the phrase omne trium perfectum translates as ‘everything that comes in threes is perfect’, or, every set of three is complete. Therefore, having completed three years as Writer -in-Residence prompts me to reflect on the residency, TimeIn, the commitment of the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) to arts and prisoners, and the work produced.
Arts in HMP Magilligan provide a vital alternative within the prison routine. At the writing classes we tap into the riches of literature, its complexities, moods, spirituality, entertainment, tragedy, comedy and healing. What cannot be spoken of in conflicted human interactions can be ‘said’ and gets ‘said’ in literature. Literature is the cheapest product on the market and much of it available on the internet for free.
PAF’s programmes bring arts-consciousness, communication and expression. The workshops are real work coming from inside to outside, creating something unseen before in the world. Techniques involve prisoners mirroring their experiences and the subsequent benefits which achieve crucial insights.
Time In Issue 12 contains articles on PAF’s exhibition in the Crumlin Road Gaol, and a timely update on TheResidencyProgrammecovering the unprecedented number of entries to the Koestler Trust Awards. Our cover and comic strip introduces new characters to the magazine while we finally have a sports writer, and the editorial team pay tribute to the input from new writers, poets, page-designers and to the overall encouraging interest in the content and appearance of the final publication. This year’s achievements at Listowel further endorse the commitment by the writers to develop and showcase their writing.
We also welcome our new Governor, Richard Taylor to Magilligan. We note his working relationship with PAF which will enable further advances in rehabilitation through the arts as well as more prisoners’ engagement with education programmes, not least building towards the future and their release, when the writing skills developed in the workshops can lead to an internal structuring of the self, self-reflection and raised communications.
Three words to sum up the three years; ‘challenging’, ‘creative’, ‘change’.
Pamela Mary Brown
Contents
Front Cover Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the first edition of ActionComicsfeaturing Superman. A mint quality original was sold in the US for $3.2 million in 2014
Dear TimeIn,
IIRISH LANGUAGE CLASS
would like to draw attention to the fact that there is no Irish language class in Magilligan. My children speak Irish and there are many prisoners who would like to learn it because their children are in Irish schools. Learning a language makes other languages much easier to learn, for example in other European countries most people speak many different languages. There is already an Irish speaking language class in Maghaberry, so we would like the same chance to learn Irish. >>MN
‘A SINKING FEELING’
Dear TimeIn,
Why are the sinks in some cells so small? There is adequate room to fit a BelfastSinkyet we have something similar to a bird bath. It’s tiny and serves no purpose. The huge taps mounted on this wee bit of porcelain leaves one laughing at the other. I note with some amusement that the company’s name is ‘INTA’. Is this a bad joke? I can’t get water ‘inta’ anything from the oversized taps? They are spring loaded, high pressure taps that you approach with the same apprehension as the hole in the wall on pay day. You consider how hard should I press this thing? With one hand on the chosen tap and the other strategically placed underneath, you apply a little pressure and grit your teeth. It goes from a slow trickle to, BOOM! A high pressure jet washer, leaving your hand damp whilst everything within a four foot radius gets a good soaking. Up both walls, over the toilet seat, around your feet the geyser shoots the water leaving you with a soaked crotch. It takes five minutes to dry the walls, floor and pat down your wet legs and with paper towels. Shambling out into the corridor, trying to look cool, you now need to explain to your fellow inmates that it’s the sink’s fault and not a ‘little accident’. For the foreseeable future my sink remains off limits while the chrome taps shine like a new shilling. I have put in a request to Gardens , asking would they allow me to have a Geranium plant and a small amount of compost for the sink, as it’s a pity to waste such a nice pot. >>MMcG.
Troubled Waters
To his GP the hypochondriac said, My life is one ocean of dread’
The reply was humane
‘Your mind’s a flood-plain, You just need a tap on the head.’
>>PMB
RE: RISE IN TOBACCO PRICES (WINTER 2017 ISSUE)
Dear TimeIn,
Irefer to your previous letter from an unsympathetic writer re the plight of smokers in prison. I would like to point out to the writer and those who agree with him that unlike other Government establishments prisons are actually a place of residence for those sentenced to be there and as much as I am sure the author would like to ban people from smoking in their own homes I regret to inform him that such a law has not yet been passed and never will as the government makes too much money from smokers both inside and outside prison. Smokers are restricted to their cells and open areas of the yard which I do agree with however to ban it totally would be detrimental to the well being of both prisoners and staff. Obviously the author has never smoked nor lived with someone who has tried to stop smoking but lack of nicotine causes serious mood swings which can result in violent outbursts and we have a big enough risk of that in prisons. >>PMC
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Dear TimeIn,
Afew issues I would like to bring to your attention. Prisoners are stuck on the wing with nothing to do in order to fill their time productively. If you have completed essential skills you no longer have access to interesting or decent education classes. How to alleviate boredom is a huge issue. I would like to gain skills and knowledge so there should be more educational choice. Please can you look into helping prisoners fulfil their time to the best of their abilities? Also, I would like to point out that the phones on the wings don’t always work correctly. Thanks, >>JM
PAF Crumlin Exhibition
Libération 14 March 2018
On 14th March the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) held an arts event in Crumlin Road Gaol. Fred Caulfield, executive director said that ‘Libération, is an exhibition of art, writing and music by serving prisoners in HMP Maghaberry, HMP Magilligan, Hydebank Wood College and Women’s Prison and Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre. The showcase also features art works, live performances and recordings of writing by mentees taking part in our community arts based mentoring programme.’
EVENT OPENING
Austin Treacy, Director of Prisons, opened the event on a personal note, ‘The Crum is of special significance to me as I started my career in the Northern Ireland Prison Service 41 years ago. This Victorian Gaol of a Radial Wheel design epitomised the then thinking of how such places would punish prisoners, right the wrong before returning to society. Next year the NIPS will commission Davis House a new state of the art 360 person accommodation building on the Maghaberry site with its origins in the radial wheel style.’
PRISON ARTS FOUNDATION TRIBUTE
Director Treacy praised PAF’s programmes adding ‘I want to pay tribute to the Prison Arts Foundation, to their Management Board, their artists and of course
their students for all their hard work, resilience and of course their brilliance, talent, vision in their continuance through the Arts to make our prisons and youth centres better places. Better places to work in, better places to live in through the transformation of buildings and spaces, and through the reaching out and changing lives, saving lives, liberating talent and skills that so many men, women and young persons have rediscovered or more commonly found within themselves. I applaud their skill and talent of all we see and hear this evening. ‘
SUPPORTING THE ARTS
Director Treacy emphasised the value in continuing to support the arts through challenging times. ‘With Public Sector austerity set to remain; this year like many other years has been a challenging one for those who champion, and care deeply for the role of the Arts, and in particular the custody arena in Northern Ireland. That the Prison Arts Foundation continues to grow, and make such a difference is a real testament to their commitment to change lives. Over many years of working in NIPS I have come across many courageous, talented and passionate artists working in our prisons. Art has transformed some of our spaces and I am grateful for that.’
REPORT LAUNCH
Dr Shelley Tracey launched the Prison Arts Foundation’s report ‘Building Foundations for Change through the Arts’ funded by the Arts Council of NI. The report explores the impact and benefits of PAF’s arts programmes, through the lenses of fourteen participants in the programmes, including six individuals who have continued with their arts practice since their release from prison, and current members of our creative writing group in HMP Magilligan.
ARTS PLATFORM
The aim of ‘Libération’ was to give the participants a platform to display their work as authentic artists. The event was attended by over 250 individuals and the audience included artists, family and friends of exhibiting artists and key individuals/representatives from organisations working within the criminal justice system in NI including Department for Justice NI, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Probation Service NI, Youth Justice Agency, Irish Prison Service, Arts Council NI, NIACRO and
Prison Chaplaincy.
COMMENTS
Tom Shortt, Arts Development Officer, Irish Prison Service said ’I really enjoyed seeing the art work in the very appropriate setting of the Crumlin Road Gaol and meeting everybody associated with PAF. At the moment I am working towards an exhibition of artwork from all 13 prisons in the South, therefore Libération was a good experience and a good reference point for me as I face a similar challenge. It is well worth doing these events, a lot of good things flow from the occasion. The musicians and singers also added some real atmosphere and it was great to see how it was a positive occasion for families and friends.’
Also in attendance was the librarian form HMP Magilligan who thoroughly enjoyed the event , ‘it was very impressive. It was a truly fitting place to hold the event. It was great to meet a few ex-prisoners telling me how the Prison Arts Foundation have turned their lives around, from art and music alike.’
THEARTS
North West Regional College’s art teacher based at HMP
Magilligan took part in the Prison Arts Foundation's exhibition at the Crumlin Road Gaol. Additionally, Natasha supervised the collaborative painting of a portrait of Allison Wilson who sadly passed away last year. Allison was the art teacher at Magilligan for more than 20 years. Allison’s children were present at the event and PAF’s executive director, Fred Caulfield, presented the portrait to Allison’s three children. Allison regularly contributed work on behalf of Magilligan to PAF’s exhibitions and it was fitting to have Natasha do the same, ensuring that 22 pieces of work represented Magilligan at ‘Libération’.
A funding event at Magilligan 'Tea and Buns' held a few months ago in memory of Allison Wilson raised a fantastic £800. A representative from Macmillan Cancer Support
visited the prison in May and was presented with the cheque, £300 of which was raised by prisoners. Governor Taylor and NWRC staff attended the presentation in the Education Annexe. Macmillan Cancer Support is among the largest British charities, providing specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer.
DR SHELLEY TRACEY SPEAKING
Perfect Meditation
Two Sanskrit words ‘Dhyana’ and ‘Vichara’ are translated into English as ‘meditation’and ‘enquiry’ .
Whether you chose to sit on the floor ‘cross-legged’ in a traditional Yoga pose, or in a chair, the spine must be straight. The neck relaxed and the head mentally and physically ‘aimed’ upwards. You should be “sitting tall” without strain, in a relaxed and alert posture. Sitting quietly and experimenting with how to sit easy and straight is a meditation experience in itself.
BREATHING
Sitting at ease, let your attention rest on your breathing, “belly breathing” is a common description of this practice, e.g. counting to a chosen number as you breathe in and to the same number again as you breathe out.
EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS
Consider your emotions and thoughts in the same way by placing your conscious attention on them. This is described as “Choiceless Awareness” by Jiddu Krishnamurti, where you refrain from all mental judgments and adopt a ‘beholding’ attitude ofpuresingle-mindedattention
This type of meditation is largely based on the ‘ZaZen’ practice as performed in the Soto Zen school of Japanese Buddhism.
MANTRA
To use the ‘So Ham’ Mantra sit down as described above, and as you breathe in you are mentally saying “So” and as you breathe out, mentally say “Ham”.
The goal of meditation practice is to achieve a perfectly ‘Still mind’.
ATMA-VICHARA ‘SELF-ENQUIRY’
‘Atma’ means soul/Soul or more accurately self/ Self. In your meditation practice, if your attention wanders elsewhere just gently and patiently bring it back to the question ‘Who am I?’ There should be no attempt to “answer”the question. You should
just quietly persist in the practice and if various personal “answers” enter your mind as to “whom” or “what”you “are”ignore them, just continue to mentally ask “Who am I”-or, “What am I”?
Before the practice of ‘Self-Enquiry’ include the 5 mental affirmations:
1: “I am not this body”
2: “I am not this emotion/s”
3: “I am not these thought/s”
4: “I am not deep in a dreamless sleep”
5: “I am “something” beyond these”.
Quietly proceed with your questioning of ‘Who am I?’ Keeping in mind that you are not seeking a conceptualanswer.
Self-Enquiry is reminiscent of the ‘Koan’ questions given by the Zen Masters of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, which have no immediate, sensible, or logical answer, but which are meant to create tremendous mental tension leading to a total “collapse” of the monk’s conceptualising, ego-based mind, which results in a profound ‘Inner Silence’ or ‘Emptiness’ (‘The Great Void’) which has been described as “Sudden” Spiritual Enlightenment.
INNER PEACE
Inner Peace/Silence is theonlyReal“answer” which is ‘Beyond’wordsandthoughts
Atma-Vichara as a daily practice for its own merits achieves calming the mind, lowering blood pressure, raising energy levels and the general overall healing of body mind and spirit. >>DR
wordsworthlearning • interview with rita treacy
WordsWorthLearning and Skills Programme
The WordsWorthLearning Programme was devised for people with specific learning difficulties (SLDs) by Rita Treacy in 1991.
Do computers make the programme easier for the younger generation, or is the Client/Consultant approach better? The paper based program is harder to teach. Client/Consultant approach is better as you have that interaction. It has been online since November 2011. The difference between the two programme options is that online tutorials can be paused and rewound to suit the learner.
Are students from a broad age range? I don’t use the program with children under the age of 6, they wouldn’t be able for the tasks. It suits young
people and adults across many ages.
In 2015 the program “flipped Classroom” model was tested in mainstream schools with positive results. Can you see the programme offered in all schools in the future? Yes, there has been a lot of interest and I’ve done several presentations on the flipped classroom model. This also encourages parents to interact with the school. Flipped classroom actually means doing work outside of the classroom, there is also peer classroom mentoring.
Is there a difference teaching the programme in Magilligan than a typical classroom environment? Yes, in a very positive way. The guys are self-motivated and voluntarily attend each session. There is a lot of joking but focus when the work needs done. In Magilligan also the sessions last 2 hours. I would normally do 1 hour sessions.
Is the programme available in all prisons in the North? This is a unique one off situation in Magilligan but yes I would like the programme to be rolled out throughout other prisons.
Is there an age limit? 6 years upward to adults of any age. There really is no limit but someone under the age of 6 would find the tasks difficult.
What is dyslexia and how does it affect people? The term dyslexia relates to difficulties with how you read, how much you read and how much you understand what you read. The thing with dyslexia is there is a genetic or a biological cause to it. So, there could be some sort of issue with the brain from birth, but a lot of people get the title dyslexia from their reading and writing skills are a level below average. But what that means is that they learn differently from other people. Unless there is that neurological component it is purely a reading and spelling disorder not dyslexia. >> JM
Jillian’s Interview
How many students are involved and how were they selected? Initially there were 8 students but we currently have 7 students engaging with the programme. In December 2017 I identified potential students who were Entry 3 Literacy or below on assessment and had an EDR which would enable them to complete the full programme. I spoke to the individual candidates, explained the programme and the opportunities it offered along with the commitment we would expect. Towards the end of January 2018 the selected students completed a comprehensive assessment reading and spelling abilities conducted by Rita over 2-3 hours. The programmebeganon30thJanuaryanda groupsessionwasleadbyRita.
How many mentors and how were they chosen? I identified potential mentors whowereassessed asLevel1 Literacyor above and had an appropriate EDR. I spoke with them individually, explained the programme and what part they wouldplay.
How many weeks does the course run? Approximately 18 weeks, with an additional 3-4 weeks at the end which allows the students to consolidate their learning and be re-assessed. The programme runs over lunch 3 times a week and takes a great deal of commitment from both the learner and thementor.
How will it compliment the courses run by the college? Mostofthestudentson the course had not previously accessed education or workshop courses. By the end of the programme we would envisage all students will be able to join their preferred course - either educational, vocational or the Arts. Taking part in the course not only improves the learners’ educational outcomes but also their confidence and self-esteem and access certificates in Literacy,Numeracy,andICT.’
Rita’s workshop in HMP Magilligan
A A A
ttention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder is a common medical disorder known as ADHD. It is very common among young children and is known to continue into adulthood.
According to the National Resource Centre on ADHD ‘More than 75 percent of children with ADHD continue to experience significant symptoms in adulthood. In early adulthood, ADHD may be associated with depression, mood or conduct disorders and substance abuse.’
DIAGNOSED AS A CHILD
Time In interviewed JO’B who was diagnosed as a child about the condition. ‘Although some specialists do say that you grow out of it. I like to think I know a lot about this condition as I was diagnosed with it from a very young age. From about the age of ten my mum took me to the Royal Victoria hospital for sick children to see medical specialists also known as psychologists on a monthly basis. I was subject to a lot of medications. When I was young I was always messing about, sometimes losing my temper and smashing windows. I was also starting fires in the house while my family were there. My mum didn’t know what to make of my behaviour, I was always being loud and cheeky, but going to see the specialists we found out a lot about ADHD, and the more we talked and listened to them we realised that I had this certain condition.’
DIFFICULTIES IN PRISON
TimeInhad the opportunity to interview a Prisoner about how difficult it is to deal with ADHD whilst in prison.
We asked JL how he has found life in prison suffering from ADHD and he stated. ‘When it comes to ADHD it becomes difficult while locked in the cell and I find it hard that if you wanted to go for a walk to calm down or cool off I can’t do this at any time. It is definitely difficult being in prison whilst having ADHD as sitting still is not a viable option when you are stuck in a cell. From a more social point of view it’s not so much that you don’t think before you speak but it is more about just saying something that’s on your mind and at times this can cause problems because you don’t realise that your interrupting people and not meaning to.’ >>JM
Did You Know?
In Othello, Act IV, scene 3, Desdemona sings ‘All round my hat, I wears a green willow’. She uses the decoration as a symbol, ‘If anyone should ask, the reason why I wears it, tell them that my true love is far, far away”.
The coloured ribbon (folded into a loop) is used as a universal symbol by many groups to highlight a cause or issue, among the best known are the red ribbon to highlight AIDS and the pink ribbon for breast cancer. Both purple and orange ribbons are worn to represents ADHA.
prison design • jeremy bentham
Panopticon and Other Penal Systems.
Jeremy Bentham’s ‘Panopticon’ is an architectural structure designed to maximize efficiency and compliance of criminals under sentence. Bentham was benevolent compared to penologists such as John Haviland who built Philadelphia’s Penitentiary in the 1820s and designed the building to control not just the inmates but to make a public statement to potential criminals.
Inside Haviland’s Penitentiary, the cells were separated and built to hold each prisoner in solitary confinement, thus limiting social interaction and forcing introspection. The façade of the building reflected its intimidating Gothic structure to instil fear as a deterrent of crime and criminal behaviour.
Bentham’s concept was less based on punitive Gothic structures. His sense of Architectural determinism created the physical structure to directly influence the behaviour of the prisoner.
Thus the Panopticon model was utilitarian and liberal. The structure could equally function for schools, hospitals, factories and more. The design is a circular structure around a tower block with cells lining the circumference of the outer building. Every cell is in full view of the central tower and every cell has a view of the central tower.
The Panopticon, as applied as a penitentiary, was meant to be a structure of certainty that used surveillance of the prisoner. The central tower always maintained an unobstructed view of the prisoners.
Architectural trends emerged from Bentham’s Panopticon including William Blackburn’s radial system of the penitentiary that involved a central building which housed administration with a series of cell blocks radiating out from the building. Blackburn’s architecture strategically placed the directors and administration where they would be able to see all of the inmates while the inmates themselves would not be able to see the administration.
John Haviland’s Penitentiary in Philadelphia was as radial as the Panopticon model with a central administrative building and a series of cellblocks stretching out from it. Haviland’s innovation was solitary confinement. The cellblocks at his type of structure had their own exercise yard. Incarceration on this model meant lengthy solitude which was the result of Quaker influence in penitentiary development, and demanded of prisoners that they equally meditated on their crimes as both punishment and rehabilitation.
The Auburn System developed in New York rejected the emphasis on keeping prisoners in solitude, herded them together and forced labour was part of the system.
>>PMB
Jeremy Bentham on his 270th birthday
Philosopher Jeremy Bentham, whose remains have been on display at University College London since 1832, finally travels to America. According to the mailonlinein February ‘His remains will be flown to New York as part of the Met Breuer's new show Like Life: Sculpture,ColourandtheBody. Bentham left his body to medical science but his head was virtually destroyed during the preservation process. Therefore, a wax head has been designed and awaits him in America.
DOES TRADITIONAL MUSIC MATTER IN THE MODERN WORLD?
The Time In team would like to wish Ian Lland all the best following his retirement in March. Ian was a Maths teacher in HMP Magilligan for over twenty years, during which time he always gave his support (and knowledge!) to the Prison Arts Foundation as well as contributing regularly to the magazine.
Ian is a bagpipe player, a skill he learned from his father and he is passionate about promoting this tradition and here at Time Inwe couldn’t say goodbye without asking him about bagpipes and music in the modern world.
Did you know?
The first documented bagpipe was found on a Hittite slab at Eyuk and has been dated to 1,000 B.C.!
Bagpipes were traditionally made using the entire animal, turned inside out with the pipes attached where the legs and neck would have been.
Today the music industry has, like all other business, become a global industry. So what is the point of traditional music? Although the world is becoming more multicultural, it is important not to lose our own traditions.
My father was a fanatical player of the bagpipes from the age of eight until he finally hung up his bagpipes when he was eighty. It is thought that bagpipes were invented in the Middle East but spread throughout Europe during the Roman Empire. There are Breton pipes (France), Galician pipes (Spain), Zampogna pipes (Italy), Gaida pipes (Bulgaria) and pipes in many countries of the Middle East today.
After the 1745 rebellion in Scotland the playing of the pipes was banned and around that time many bellows blown quieter pipes were invented so that they could be played indoors to keep the traditions alive. The Scottish Lowland, Border and Northumbrian as well as Uilleann pipes are all examples of these. Uilleann Piper Liam Óg O'Flynn died recently aged 72.
As well as a solo career and as a member of the group Planxty, O'Flynn recorded with many international musical artists, including Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler, the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Mike Oldfield, Mary Black, Enya and Sinéad O'Connor. A quote from Liam was;
“When I'm playing, I'm certainly lost within it. The only way to describe it, is that it's like looking inwards. I think when a performer engages with the audience, and vice versa, it's like a spell is cast and a terrific passage of feelings moves from the musician to the audience and back again.”
The Scottish bagpipes are played in traditional pipe bands in most countries around the world but also by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers in concert reaching a younger more varied audience.
Traditional music and instruments such as the pipes, harp, fiddle and bodhrán are an important part of our heritage and are in our DNA just as much as our family name. >>IL
Despite what many people think, ‘doing time’ isn’t easy. Prison is a punishment but once ‘time is served’ we want prisoners to leave custody and become good citizens. Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) has facilitated art opportunities in NI’s three adult prisons, HMP Maghaberry, HMP Magilligan and Hydebank Wood College for over 20 years. Funded by Department for Justice through the Northern Ireland Prison Service, these purposeful activities help offenders cope with custody while providing positive opportunities to help individuals toward change.
PAF Residency programme
EXCELLENT STANDARDS
At a time when there is pressure on prison resources, PAF continues to deliver an excellent standard of quality and arts engagement during our 2017/18 programme. Our Artists in Residence facilitated over 900 participative and collaborative workshops to nearly 6500 prisoners. Why do we do what we do? There is immense creativity among the prison population, and the arts has a transformative impact and can change lives for prisoners, for families and for people in the community.
KOESTLER AWARDS
HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire, England came top last year with the highest number of entries in the Koestler Trust Awards. Koestler challenged establishments sending in entries to beat their 98 this year. PAF are pleased to report that in April 2018 we submitted 166 entries on behalf of our workshop participants in HMP Maghaberry, HMP Magilligan and Hydebank Wood College! And this year’s entries also include art works, recordings of writing and live performances by mentees taking part in our pilot community based arts mentoring programme.
HIGHLIGHTS
PAF Highlights of the year include:
Supporting a Mentee to speak about his experience of the arts to students attending Belfast Met’s ‘Time for Change’ Social Work Matters in the Criminal Justice System NI conference, May 2017
Dan Gordon performed ‘Frank Carson - A Rebel Without A Pause’ to students in Hydebank Wood College, July 2017
500 copies of Issue 10 Time In Magazine distributed across all 3 prison establishments and key organisations working within the criminal justice system in NI, August 2017
Writer-in-Residence Pamela Brown visited Koestler Trust’s ‘Inside’ exhibition in Southbank Centre London on behalf of PAF, September 2017
3 joint exhibitions of art work and creative writing held in libraries across NI during Community Relations and Cultural Awareness week, a collaborative venture with the Northwest Regional College, Belfast Met and PAF, September to October 2017
Visiting Professor Gary Sloan’s from New York facilitated drama workshops in Hydebank Wood College and HMP Magilligan, October to November 2017
Sharon, a 2nd year Ulster University Fine Art student, shadowed Artist in Residence Anne Scullin workshops in Hydebank Wood College as part of her work placement, October to December 2017
Presenting 17 Koestler certificates and awards to PAF’s Creative Writing group in HMP Magilligan, December 2017
A talented student in Hydebank Wood College created a piece of art to mark Tom McGonigle’s retirement from his role as Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, December 2017
500 copies of Issue 11 Time In Magazine distributed across all 3 prison establishments and key organisations working within the criminal justice system in NI, December 2017
Tinderbox Theatre Company performed ‘The Man Who Fell to Pieces’ to prisoners in HMP Magilligan, February 2018
Facilitating a new mural art project with prisoners and their families in HMP Maghaberry, March 2018
PAF’s Creative Writing group in HMP Magilligan published 2 anthologies of writing, over 50 poems and 10 short stories were selected, March 2018
Showcasing art, writing and music created by people in custodial and community settings across NI to over 250 individuals, March 2018
Launching ‘Building Foundations for Change Through the Arts’, a research document by Dr Shelley Tracey into the impact of participation in PAF’s art programmes, March 2018
Taking part in Koestler’s 100 years on: an art trail by women prisoners and ex-prisoners in corridors of power across the country to play a part in the centenary year of women's suffrage, March 2018.>>AC
APPLYFORMENTORING
Our programme activity may be coming to an end in June 2018 but we still encourage people to apply as this will be evidence for our funders of the demand for the scheme beyond the pilot. You can ask for an application form or for further information from a PAF Artist in Residence if you are in Prison, or your Probation Officer, Sentence Manger or contact PAF staff directly by writing to Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) Unit 3, 2-10 Bridge Street, Belfast, BT1 1LU.
SPORTS DEPT.
BRASSNECKS
In October 2017, a group of inmates from Alpha House challenged the PEI staff in Magilligan to a game of five-a-side football. The idea was to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease Association. The game was played in an entertaining and friendly atmosphere, with the PEIs pipping the inmates at the final whistle. The inmates in Magilligan raised a fantastic £450 for the charity. Many thanks in particular goes to inmate NW and his family for all the work they put into making the event a huge success.
A four piece musical band of men in the twilight of their years, came into Magilligan in December 2017 as part of the Christmas festivities. The band of merry men entertained the audience with songs, jokes and also spun a few yarns.
They entertained the group for an hour, followed by a warm cup of tea and a chat with some of the audience.
Thanks to all the PEI staff who helped make the event a success.
LOWER DRUMMANS PARKRUN
Magilligan became the second prison in the UK to hold a parkrun in January 2018, and the first in Northern Ireland to take part in a parkrun event. The run was held within the confines of the prison and saw inmates and staff involved as walkers, runners and volunteer organisers.
Governing Governor Gary Milling said the event helped "break down barriers" and "rehabilitate" prisoners.
A huge thanks to all who ran, scanned, beeped, marshalled, made the tea/coffee, cheered and in any other way helped make the inaugural Lower Drummans parkrun such a runaway success. It was a massive team effort by everyone involved.
16 inmates (5 from Hydebank) and 11 staff completed the run.
Thanks also to the chairman and manager from Coleraine F.C. and to Cllr. Boyd Douglas (Causeway Coast & Glens council) for their participation.
Parkrun organises free, weekly, 2km and 5km timed runs that take place all around the world. The first ever event was in Bushy Park Teddington UK were 13 runners got together on the 2nd of October 2004. >>CR
Sports Time
The last twelve months have proven, once again, how successful our two small nations are on the global stage of sport. From 6 Nations Grand Slam winners to World Superbike Champion, 2017/18 has been a year to remember on both sides of the border. The silver lining to this success came in the boxing ring at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Boxers representing clubs across Northern Ireland, from Ballymena to West Belfast, won six silver medals making Northern Ireland one of the most successful boxing nations of the games; not bad for a population of only 1.8 million competing against a combined population of over 3 billion! These boxers are the next generation to be produced by the Irish boxing conveyor belt of success. They will look to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Burnett, Katie Taylor and Carl Frampton who have all brought ‘World Title’ belts to these shores in recent times.
National at Aintree in April.
The Winter Olympics, hosted by South Korea, demonstrated how powerful a tool that sport can play in uniting even the most divided of nations. Similar impacts could be felt on this island as sporting success continues to flow freely on both sides of the border…and there’s nothing Brexit can do to stop us!
Outside of the ring, history was made by the Ireland rugby team who completed the Grand Slam for only the second time on route to claiming the 6 Nations Championship. Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale was crowned ‘Player of the Championship’ after scoring seven tries, a new record for the 6 Nations. This came just a few months after the British and Irish Lions, captained by Ulster’s Rory Best, came agonisingly close to an unprecedented test tour win in New Zealand. A dramatic tied game in the final test resulted in a thrilling 1-1 series draw.
There was further success on two wheels and on four legs as Jonathan Rea claimed an impressive third World Superbike title whilst Irish trained horse, Tiger Roll, won the infamous
Looking to the remainder of 2018 and into 2019 there will be no ‘GAWA’ or ‘BIG’ to add colour and craic to the football World Cup in Russia (commencing 14th June 2018). Both teams were eliminated in the final play-off stage of qualification. Michael O’Neill committed his long term future to Northern Ireland after declining the opportunity to become Scotland’s national manager. Rory McIlroy will spearhead the European golf team in September 2018 as they look to recapture the Ryder Cup against a very strong USA team in Paris. Jonathan Rea looks on course to win a fourth World Superbike title and can the Irish rugby team kick on from 6 nations triumph to win the rugby World Cup in September 2019? >>AMc
Grand
IPsychopaths
n.a person suffering from a serious mental illness which makes them behave violently.
OxfordDictionary
t would appear psychopaths have been given an unjustly bad name. At least that’s according to a televised documentary that was aired recently. It seems the general public doesn’t really understand what it means to be a psychopath. By all accounts, not every psychopath turns out to be an Adolf Hitler, a Bin Laden or a homicidal maniac. Seemingly most psychopaths go through their lives without ever murdering anybody.
The first major surprise I got from this documentary was the fact that about 1% of the world’s population are psychopaths! Wow. That means that every time I go to a major sporting event attended by many thousands of people I’m surrounded by psychopaths. It means that schools, colleges, large bars or nightclubs, and work places such as factories are full of them too. Whenever I walk down a crowded street there are psychopaths all around me. I’d always imagined that maybe one person in a million was a psychopath but not more than that. How wrong was I?
Top 10 Craziest Psychopaths in Comic Books
There’s no denying that the majority of comic book villains are at the very least a little bit crazy. After all, it’s hard not to have your mental health questioned when you commit crime sprees, attempt mass murder or plot world domination!
Another surprise was the clinical definition of what actually makes a psychopath. It appears that psychopaths have difficulty understanding the pain and suffering of others. It’s not that they don’t sympathise with other people’s suffering…it’s that they don’t empathise with it.
“Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do?” - Patrick Bateman, AmericanPsycho
They are unable to understand the pain and hurt that they can sometimes cause. If you are unaware that you are doing something hurtful, then how can you know when to stop? Psychopaths also feel that they can justify anything they do. If you can justify anything you do in your own mind then you will never feel guilt or remorse.
Former Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James was unveiled as a psychopath. Former Special Forces solider and novelist Andy McNab was also revealed to have several psychopathic traits. I actually
According to Top10HQ.com, here are the top ten craziest psychopaths in comic books;
10. Bullseye (Daredevil)
9. The Governor (Walking Dead)
8. Kevin (Sin City)
7. Rorschach (Watchmen)
6. Sin (Captain America)
5. Lono (100 Bullets)
4. James Gordon Jr (Batman)
met Andy McNab back in 2012 and although he talks at a hundred miles an hour he seemed to be a perfectly decent and sane fellow. It seems that there’s a sub-division of psychopaths who are perfectly capable of functioning on a daily basis without any problems at all and McNab is one of them.
There’s a long list of the personality traits that can lead to a person being clinically diagnosed as a psychopath. It’s an extensive list and the more of these traits that you have in your personality the more chances you’re a psychopath.
The list includes; lack of empathy, easy self-justification, highly competitive, compulsive liar, manipulative and risk taker. These are only a few of the personality traits, there are many more. And although I can be a bit manipulative when it suits me, the rest doesn’t really apply to me so I’m probably okay.
Then again, if I was a psychopath, would I even know?
Honest Jim
3. Torquemada (2000AD)
2. Kid Miracleman (Miracleman)
1. The Joker (Batman)
Nature watch Barking Up the Right Tree
Most people think that gardening is a pastime for old men, whereas it appeals to all ages and both genders. If we look inside any prison in the world, there is one similarity, daub grey colours on the outside walls and neutral cream tones on the inside. It’s dreary, dull and lifeless and yet standing like a beacon of hope and light are the flower beds, containers and trees that are scattered about inside the grounds.
From the earliest days, man has been trying to grow plants that he can both eat and bring pleasure to his eye. Holland is a country with both the same amount of rainfall and climate that we have in Ireland, yet the Dutch use it to their advantage to grow plants that make millions of pounds every year. For example according to HollandTrade
andInvestonline ‘The Dutch are one of the world’s largest exporter of seeds: the exports of seeds amounted to € 3.1 billion in 2014.’
You’ve heard of Leylandii trees and the infamous hedge wars on the news. They’re the huge Christmas tree like conifers that planted as a small tree, sometimes for privacy, grow to enormous heights and cause fights between neighbours as they eventually block out the sunlight. These fast growing trees can reach heights of 15 meters (49 ft) in 16 years. All this from a tree that was only two feet tall on the day of purchase.
Before the introduction of Christianity, trees where worshipped and held in high esteem, such as holly, rowan, mistletoe and the ancient and mighty Irish oak. Great mystical and healing powers were said to be contained in these trees and to cut them down deemed unlucky for the axe-man. The fairy tree or hawthorn holds great superstition right up to modern day. Believed to be the home of the little people, it should never be cut down or uprooted for fear of upsetting the folk that live within its twisted branches. A certain, agonising death awaits the person that defies this superstition. Roads have been rerouted in order to preserve such trees.
Trees soak in carbon dioxide, and potentially harmful gases, such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and filter the air so it comes out as clean, clear, oxygen. With all the talk nowadays of climate change and global warming we should be planting many million more trees instead of telling people to use less deodorant. More trees mean less pollution. >>MMcG
Did You know?
According to the
Reader’s Digest:
Trees can be male, female, or both
Some trees produce a bitter chemical to ward off predators
These trees are among the world's oldest living things
Stress makes trees stronger
Fungus helps trees grow
listowel competition 2018
HMP Magilligan writers have continued to do well in the all-Ireland Listowel Writers’ Week competition. Building on previous years’ successes, prisoners received 1st and 2nd Prize in the Short Story Getting Started category, 1st prize in Advanced Poetry and 2nd Prize in the Intermediate Poetry Category. Listowel Writer’s Week Literary festival established in Kerry 1970 is considered one of Ireland’s foremost festivals. In this issue of TimeInwe have included two winning entries.
A Good Man’s Darkness
PartOne
Those who know me will call me a good man, a nice man, a quiet man. Those who do not know me will call me a mad man, an evil man, a killer. I tell you that I am nothing but a broken shell. I once had a life, a family and a reason to live. I was happy until my entire existence was destroyed in a storm of violence. My life was taken from me. A gunfight between criminals in a carpark, six seconds and my wife and daughter were gone.
The police said they died quickly, it was bad luck, the wrong place, the wrong time. They said it was a tragedy. My life stopped that day. The police said it was common thugs in a shootout. The news said it was another gangland execution by the Cerlo crime family, a common crime in their attempt to expand their bloody empire. All I knew was that my life was over.
I did not know how I would go on, many times I thought of joining my loved ones, but I was too weak. The day of their funerals I buried my daughter and wife together. I did not know it at the time, but I buried myself with them. I was an empty shell surrounded by black fog. All those who tried to help me in that first year, I pushed away.
As I collapsed into despair I was constantly reminded of my loss. News of the Cerlo family continued to rise like a disease taunting me with their power and untouchable status. Then the darkness began to fill me. First came the pain, then the rage and then the burning fury filling me with a purpose. A plan began to form.
All the light I had in my life was taken from me and turned to darkness. I decided to share my darkness with those who forced it into my life. I would wipe the Cerlo family bloodline from
history. I would take their happiness as they took mine.
I had much to learn in the following years. I had never been in a fight, I hated violence, but to complete my task I needed knowledge of bloodshed and brutality. I spent a year researching on the internet. Once I was content with what I had learned I began to buy weapons. I spent the last of my money on learning how to use them.
On the fourth year of my loss, I went to the graveside of my wife and child. I told them what I intended. When I felt the calmness sweep over me I knew I had their blessing. I bought a rundown campervan, left my home and my old life behind. My task began three weeks later.
PartTwo
I kept track of the Cerlo family through news feeds. There were five lives to be taken. I would start with their youngest son, a child like my daughter. The boy was attending one of the luxury schools built for the rich and powerful. I studied
the school for two weeks through the scope of my rifle. I saw their comings and goings. At eight years old the boy was two years older than my daughter. He had his mother’s eyes but already his father’s arrogance and evil nature. I watched him bullying and hurting the smaller children, laughing as they cried.
I knew on this day the boy would be collected by his parents. It was his eighth birthday according to his birth certificate. I waited in the treeline surrounded by beautiful flowers. The school came to life as the pupils began spilling out the doors. I looked to my left, waiting for the white limousine. I only waited a minute before it turned onto the long driveway. I looked to my right to see the boy standing alone, waiting for the car to stop beside him.
The riflescope gave me a clear picture of the boy smiling as his parents got out of the car. I waited and released a breath I did not know I was holding. Doubt scratched at the back of my mind. Does the boy deserve to die? Did my daughter? I watched as the boy was scooped up by his father, both of them laughing and smiling.
I pulled the trigger. The shot was louder than I expected and was soon replaced by a woman screaming. I knew that sound well. I broke down the rifle and placed it in my backpack. I walked away from the sound of a mother losing her child and the scream of the sirens getting closer.
I listened to the news on the radio. They used words such as horror, tragedy and innocent life. It was like hearing of my loss all over again, almost as if the news reader picked up and read the same sheet of paper they had used all those years ago.
I began planning the next part of my task. I knew who my next targets were, and where they would be. I was lucky when it came to my next targets. The
funeral for the child was big news. I went to the cemetery and spent an hour looking for a place to set up my rifle. I found a spot with an open view of the graves.
While I scanned the area through my scope a car approached. Two men emerged and moved away from me down a path between the gravestones. I tracked them through my scope, practicing as if they were my targets, judging distance and space. It was not until they turned around and I saw the faces look towards me that I realised my luck.
The two men facing me were the brothers of the leader of the Cerlo family, second and third in the power chain. I looked around and saw only a lonely man sitting by an old gravestone. I decided to push my advantage. I focused my scope and watched as they surveyed the area. They came to the end of a row and stopped to talk. My scope was pointed at the back of a head and my target faced his brother. I pulled the trigger.
I saw the puff of blood as my bullet entered the back of his head, and a second one as it struck his brother in the face. I moved my scope down to check the bodies, the closer target was dead, half of his face missing. The second man was still twitching and lay away from me. I focused at a spot under his chin. I pulled the trigger then waited for a second. There were no screams or people running away, just a lonely old man sitting by a grave. I broke down my rifle and moved slowly and left the cemetery.
PartThree
The good fortune I had at the cemetery changed my plan significantly. I had two targets left but now they would be harder to get. I had time on my side and this task would need patience.
I watched the news and checked the internet, all reporters had the same viewpoint, an attack from a rival. The cops did not confirm or deny the rumour. The reports included updates of extra security around the family. I did nothing more for a month. The news reported on murders of people known to other crime families, they
implied retaliation. Then the murdering stopped, an agreement had been reached allowing the people to settle back into their relaxed, overconfident ways.
Another two weeks passed before I got my chance to act. I watched high-price shops. The woman I was waiting on liked expensive things. It was only a matter of time before she turned up. But the question was how many men she would have with her?
The woman began visiting a jewellers, grieving costs a lot if you can afford it. After the third time I saw her I decided it was a pattern and planned to act on her next visit. The shop was on a sidestreet with no place to set up my rifle with confidence. I decided to use a different weapon. I saw her car arrive and like the other times she was dressed in black with only one man with her for protection.
They walked passed my truck in silence without looking my way. They moved three yards closer to the back of my truck as I slid from the driver seat. The man did not have time to turn on me. I brought up my shotgun, aiming low. I fired first at the woman and then at the man. They both went down hard. I stepped over the man, closer to the woman. She looked up through shocked tears. I pumped a new shell into a chamber, pointed the barrel at her head and fired.
The chaos had exploded as soon as I fired the first shot, people screamed and ran. I used the commotion to get back to my truck and leave. I realised my truck would be found easily so I dumped it and placed my weapons in a bag. I began planning for my final task.
Another two months before I could act. The Cerlo family had fallen apart, leaving my final target without enough power to protect his business and no protection for himself. I watched him for two days, this broken man sat in his huge garden by his massive swimming pool. He was alone. I climbed the wall, walked towards him, my gun held out in front of me. I shot him in the leg, so he could not run.
My family are now free of this darkness. I stood facing him as he
cursed me, hatred in his eyes. I pointed the gun at his stomach and fired until the gun clicked. I looked down at what was left of him and pushed the button releasing the magazine. I placed a single bullet into the clip, cocked it and placed it under my chin.
I thought of my family and pulled the trigger. >>JL
SINGLE CHANCE
I done the crime I’m paying the time I’ve been heavily prosecuted But unfairly persecuted.
I attempt to reintegrate In order to rehabilitate Nepotism stops me Yet murderers run free.
I’m frozen in place Officers lie to my face
Blow smoke up my arse
A ridiculous farce.
If I ask the question
Why I can’t move on
I’m told to have patience, More lies, and a con.
They hope I mess up
So they have an excuse
But what they’re doing is Torture, mental abuse.
We’re told we reap What we do sow
But that’s not true, No, no, no.
They have their favourites Who strut all smug Whilst I’m inferior, A pushover and mug.
All I’m asking for Is a single chance
But they’re too entrenched
In their hard-line stance.
So whilst Tom, Dick and Harry Move on and move out
For muggins here, nothing but Ambiguity, uncertainty and doubt.
Comic books are loved across the world, whether they bring to life the stories of our favourite superheroes such as Batman and Spiderman or mischief-makers like Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan.
With the latest Avengers movie grossing over £500 million worldwide in it’s opening weekend (the biggest movie opening of all time), comic books are no longer considered literature for geeks - they are big business.
So what is the actual history of comic books?
The history of comics has followed different paths in different cultures. Scholars have posited a pre-history as far back as the Lascaux cave paintings (approximately 18,000 years ago!). However, comic books as we know them arrived in the 19th century, with The Glasgow Looking Glass widely regarded as the first comic strip. TheGlasgowLookingGlass, published in 1826, was a satirical publication that lampooned the fashion and politics of the times. It had all of the elements that make up the modern comic, including pictures with captions that display a continuous narrative told often in installments, and the use of speech bubbles, satire and caricature.
The 1920s and 1930s saw further booms within the industry. The market for comic anthologies in Britain turned to targeting children
through juvenile humor, with The Dandyand TheBeano.DC Thomson’s TheDandy, which was first published in 1937, now holds the record for the world’s longest running comic.
A market for such comic books soon followed, and by 1938 publishers were printing original material in the format. It was at this point that Action Comics #1 launched, with Superman as the cover feature.
It is this hugely influential comic that inspired us here at Time In to pay homage the best way we could – our cover. Action Comics #1 is so
influential (and rare!) that, even in poor condition, can be worth millions of dollars. In August 2014 a near mint condition edition of the book sold for $3.2 million dollars, the highest value
ever paid for a single issue of a comic book. Although that seems a lot of money to us, the owners and industry experts expect the value of the near mint comic to continue to increase over time.
However the biggest impact Action Comics#1 has had is the enshrining of the superhero as the defining genre of American comic books. The genre lost popularity in the 1950s but reestablished its domination of the form from the 1960s until the present day, thanks to the plethora of characters introduced by Marvel and DC. Where comics have had a lowbrow reputation for much of their history, today there is a much greater acceptance with the public and in academia.
Whether it is the well-established Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Wonder Woman, Captain America or the lesser known Harley Quinn, Ant-Man or Green Arrow, there is a character every single one of us can identify which has ensured that superhero comics can and do appeal to everyone, everywhere. Comic books really are for everyone!
So given that comic books are for everyone, we at TimeInfelt we would give creating our own comic strip a go and we have . So, drum roll please….. >>AF
Action Comics #1 the very first Superman comic
Questions for our new comic artist RM
When did you first discover that you had an interest in art?
“When I was young, possibly eight, I used to watch a programme called TakeHart. When I saw the work that was sent into the programme I thought maybe I would try that.”
Where you encouraged at school to develop your talent?
“I did a GCSE in art. I took the subject seriously but I didn’t use it in a professional way. In many ways I was always creative, involved with music, hip-hop, murals and graffiti art.”
Who has influenced your work?
“Old school graffiti artists. Seen, Mode 2, Dondi, 123 Klan (American subway art), Frances Bacon and Banksy. No contemporary art does it for me, it has to be strange. It has to grab my imagination and also that it is art that you see outside in public spaces, not necessarily in art galleries.”
How did you come up with the idea for Rufus and Floyd?
“That’s a difficult question. Observation, I suppose. But I also wanted to create characters that where in jail and that you could connect with. They are also haphazard and accident prone.”
So, are we going to see more of Rufus and Floyd and how will you make your stamp in TimeIn magazine?
“Yes, you are going to see more of Rufus and Floyd. I intend to make a series. There has never been a comic strip before and it is a good way to make social commentary. I hope to continue being involved in decision making on layout, the cover design and keep you up-todate on what is going on in the art classes.”
Do you have a tag?
“Yes, I’ve developed it since I was young. A tag looks like it is threw up quickly…but it takes years to perfect, mine has been arranged and re-arranged so many times!”
MY GRANDFATHER’S HORSES
My grandfather, one of the best horsemen I ever knew, the horse whisperer had nothing on him. He worked with horses all his life because that was the way Travellers made money and communicated with each other.
HORSE FAIRS
A lot of time we went to horse fairs just to hear ‘what’s about’ talk among Travellers. See ‘what’s about’ means what kind of horses are popular, what‘s selling and what’s not. Then we can adjust to this by breeding horses that are selling, and train horses the way people want them trotting. That means racehorses that race with a sulkie (a
race trap).
BALANCE
You have three different types of ways horses trot (run) gallop, square goer, and a pacer. A galloper is no good for us and is usually sold to someone for riding purposes. A square goer trots with ease and finesse. He glides along the road with his legs stretched as far as they can go. A pacer moves like a ballerina in perfect time and balance, he does his thing.
TRAINING
When training a horse to trot it is essential to not let him break into a gallop, this happens when the horse generates speed. The trick is to build
Horses in the Sky
I got out of bed this morning, still mourning, then I looked at the sky then a voice said, daddy let’s play horsey couldn’t help it, then started to cry
See I want to believe, see I need to believe that there’shorsesinthesky see I want to believe, see I need to believe they’re in heaven with my boy
up his speed day by day and know when the time is right to let him go flat out. It’s like anything and with time you’ll learn everything you need to know by trial and error. It goes without saying, everything I learned about horses I learned from my grandfather, so they will always have a place in my heart.
RESPECT
Horses respect you as much as you respect them, and you might laugh but they can sense happiness and fear as well as any human. I have to say they are truly magical animals.
>>SF
So tell me son about those horses thosehorsesinthesky if you ride them on so quickly tell me son do they fly?
See I want to believe, see I need to believe that there’shorsesinthesky see I want to believe, see I need to believe they’re in heaven with my boy.
MusicScene
Our Musicianin
Residencehere at Magilligan was recently on tour in Germany and the UK with Billy Bragg, leaving us high and dry for a few weeks. We remained patient while anticipating news from the tour and couldn’t wait to catch-up with him to get an interview.
You were doing a bit of bragging about touring with Billy. Is being on tour as glamorous as it is in the movies?
“Glamourous isn’t a word I’d associate with being on tour. It can be exciting, interesting, boring and lonely. You spend 24 hours between gigs sleeping, travelling or eating. Then there’s the madness and the thrill of the show. You have to embrace it all.”
What were the best moment and worst moments from the tour?
“Best moments, when I had 1200 people singing the chorus to one of my songs and my partner Diane joining for the final gig in Hamburg. There weren’t any worse moments. Nothing you can’t look back and laugh at anyway.”
How do you know what songs are going to capture an audience?
“You usually know after the first song if it’s going to be a listening audience or a party audience. I had 3 different set lists tailored to suit. Experience is key.”
talk slow when I have to explain something, sometimes I’ll learn some of their language but mostly I keep the talking to a minimum and hope that the songs explain themselves.”
In your experience who is the best song writer of all time?
“That’s a hard one. Probably Dylan but my favourite is John Prine. ”
Are an audience whose second language is English much harder to play for?
“I always make a joke of my accent at the start. I try to
What was the first song you ever wrote? What was the inspiration?
“It was an anti-war song called ‘Soldier’ truly awful.”
Did you have to be a good singer to be a good songwriter and can anyone write a song?
“Not at all. Song writing is like any creative art form. You can learn the basics, learn the craft but the magic has to come from within.”
Are you better writing a song with a beat or without a beat?
“Every song has a beat when it’s finished so I’d say it’s good to find a nice rhythm and chord progression then play about with some melodies in your head.”
What do you think the best song I (SF) ever wrote is, and why?
“I think your best song is 99 years. The story draws you in and it’s got a great hook. That said, all music is subjective so you should always write songs with only one listener in mind, yourself. If you’re confident and happy with what you create the song will find it’s audience.” >>SF
GATE FEVER
New album by Paddy Nash
For those interested in listening to Paddy’s music, you can order his CDs through the Tuckshop or borrow the albums from the Library.
visit • meisner technique
Washington University Professor Gary Sloan Visits HMP Magilligan
Professor Gary Sloan delivered a series of drama workshops on November 1st2017 at HMP Magilligan. Sloan who directed a production of Macbethin a New York State prison was born and raised in New Castle, Indiana. He gained an MFA in acting at Southern Methodist University in 1978, and after graduating began his professional acting career.
Gary Sloan
Over the two days in Magilligan eight workshop participants experienced an array of Sloan’s skills. Warm up exercises both physical and voice oriented were used to relax the participants and promote engagement. Short dialogue pieces demonstrated the portrayal of mood and relationships between characters. Individual inmate storytelling monologues were developed, and the use of film as well as Shakespearean monologues added further layers to the experience. Sloan’s relaxed and astute manner drew out the inner actor of the participants while he utilised the Meisner Techniquefor prompting realistic behaviour to deliver lines.
Participant feedback comments centred on: ‘I thought Sloan was easy to work with and the way he explained things was easy to pick up’; another prisoner remarked that, ‘I never thought acting could be so enjoyable’ and another said that the workshop experience ‘will help me in the future with my writing’.
Time In’s Big Micky and wee steve had some hard hitting questions for the Slaon Dog who is making a return to the group over the summer.
‘Acting for a Change’ An ‘ol goat’s answers to cocky blokes questions.
G-dogwhenmemorisingyourlines during a play that’s got long monologueshaveyouanyoletips forthelads?
When I memorize long speeches, I treat my brain like a muscle. When it’s rested, it’s ready to learn, when it’s tired, it’s like a block of ice –nothing goes into it. So first thing in the morning I memorize new material. The rest of the day is spent practicing. Then, and here’s a secret, . . . at night, I’ll cheatand break the ice on what I’m going to learn the next morning. NOT memorize it, just go over it. So when I wake up, the new words are words that I slept with and my unconscious already started to learn them.
I like to go over something out loud, and my ear learns it’s cues. It’s like knowing the next song on a CD because you’ve heard it so many times. Same with words say them out loud and your ear will know what should come next and cue up the line you need to say. I also learn lines one at a time, then add the next line, then go back and say both of them from memory. Then I’ll add a third line and then say all three. If I make a mistake, I go back and do it again. This works for lonnnnng monologues too. I like to carry my script
gary sloan visit • meisner
around with me everywhere I go, so that when I’m stuck waiting around, I’ve got it to look at and practice. In Shakespeare’s day, they called scripts with only your words in them sides. So, I like to carry around my own sides to refer to at any time and often.
Samford Meisner was born in the 1930s. In your experience how is his technique still being used today?
If you’ve seen the film, Taxi Driver, directed by Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro, you’ll remember the scene when DeNiro is looking in the mirror and saying, “You talkin’ to me?” over and over again. I’ve seen so many plays and films where the writing and the improvised acting utilize the repetition technique – not unlike we do it in conversation with each other.
If we done a play at this jail and we were very nervousofmessingitupi.e.forgetthelinesormiss someone’scue.Whatadvicewouldyougive?
Just go with the flow! Make up the dialogue. The audience doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be, so relax and know that you or your mate will pick it up somewhere and get back on track. Or – when you mess up, just say the line – “Wasthatthephone? Excuse me. “ Then leave the stage and it’s his problem!!
Garyalotofgreatactorsandalsocomedianshave confessed to having multiple personalities, i.e. schizophrenics would say their illness is the very reasonthey’regoodinthefirstplace.Doyouagree ordisagree?
I don’t know – to each his own I guess. I don’t believe that multiple personalities make you a good actor because acting is a craft and you have to have some control. If you’re out of control, it might be interesting, frightening or surprising, but if it goes off the tracks, it’s just a train wreck and not the show that the playwright wrote. We all have lots of people inside us . . . maybe the actor just let’s them out easier and for a specific purpose. The great Irish actor, Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia, Lion in Winter) once said, “There are not very many good actors . . . but . . . if you study, . . . if you go alone and you bang and bang and bang, you try different things . . . to plug into one’s emotion is the most important thing. Actors are people, only more so Peopledom . [points to his heart] Lots of people in there.”
Listen G-dog, when giving a performance how do youbringouttherawemotionandrealism?
Well, besides remembering that cold walk from the parking lot outside of Magilligan, through all of the locked passage ways and turnstiles and finally into the barracks of your Northern Ireland holiday inn! or maybe including my experiences with you lads I find that everyexperience, every inspiration, every broken heart, every near death, child’s birth, doggie friend, divorce, wedding, disappointment, befriending and befriended or the occasional winning shot has brought me enough of happiness and hurt to inhabit
a character’s crying, laughing, yelling or kissing. I remember them all somewhere in my mind and heart, which ignites my imagination or stands ready for recall in the moment of truth on stage. The great Russian acting teacher, Konstantin Stanislavski said it best, I think:
“Notonlymustyourloveofart,alovethatiswithout fear or reproach, be the foundation of your life’s career,butyoumustalsobeinlovewithsomething orsomebodyeveryday,withapicture,aflower,a song,awoman,aprofileyousawbychancewhich remindedyouofAphroditeandhelpedyoutopeople your circle today with new glittering images, a landscapeorfootballmatchwhichproducedinyoua feelingofenergy–withanythingyoulikesolongas yourspiritisalwaysinastateofexhilaration,sothat the ordinary everyday life that surrounds you has always the power to light a spark in you.”
-Stanislavski
The Meisner technique is known most often as “Kitchen acting” which he phrased and practiced with the “repetition exercise” – saying something to another person and they repeat exactly what you said in the form of a question.
Do you want a cup of coffee?
Do I want a cup of coffee?
Do you want a cup of coffee?
Do I want a cup of coffee?
Doyouwantacupofcoffee?!
DoIwantacupofcoffee?!
Do –YOU – WANT – A CUP –OF COFFEE?!
Do – I – WANT – a cup of COFFEE?!
Do you want a cup of coffee?
[next line]
Yeah, I’ll take a cup.
Yeah? You’ll take a cup?
Yeah! I’ll take a cup.
Yeah?! You’ll take A CUP?!
Yeah, I’LL TAKE A CUP!
Yeah, you take a cup.
Yeah, I’ll TAKE a cup.
Continue – made up stuff or even lines from a play. Ironically, I recently went to a Meisner workshop with someone who trained with Sanford Meisner and he said that “Sandy” was trying to help actors out of “canned” responses and predictable acting. He felt that nobody was reacting honestly in front of an audience, rather performing or showing off. The point is to be present, listening and reacting only to your partner, not manufacturing a reaction. Speak, ask, reply, ask again, reply again and again and again a true response to the way you were spoken to. It’s being authentic – truthfulunplanned – more natural and reactionary. It’s more interesting to watch because we see that the actors don’t know what’s coming next. It’s a method of training for moment to moment behaviour. Acting is doing.
crossword • comic book characters
Edward Nigma, AKA The Riddler, is a villain obsessed with riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers. The Riddler continually tries to outsmart the Dark Knight, Gotham's hero Batman. If you know your Marvel and DC characters, try our clues below
CROSSWORD CLUES
HONEYBEES AT MAGILLGIAN
The first beekeeping course in HMP Magilligan successfully concludes in June with students becoming qualified beekeepers. The course syllabus was set by the Ulster Bee Keepers Association, with Greenmount Agricultural College (CAFRE) conducting the examinations and awarding the qualifications.
The Magilligan Apiary (where the bees are kept) is now up and running with its first two colonies of bees on site. Our beekeepers have already begun the job of developing the Apiary into a full scale honey production unit. The joinery workshop is busy building hives to accommodate the growing number of colonies, and the gardening unit have been planting wildflowers to provide the bees with much of their forage.
Fossil evidence proves that Honeybees have existed for over 25 million years. Scientists disagree about the exact date, the human race is unlikely to be older than 6 million years. Bees evolved along with all the plant life that we know today, developing a mutually beneficial system. The plants provide the bees with all their nourishment in the form of nectar (carbohydrate) and pollen (protein) which contains all the vitamins, minerals and trace elements that they need. In return, the bees as they fly from plant to plant collecting supplies, provide their hosts with an essential pollination service. 70% of the food we eat, depends on honeybee pollination. Many people believe that without the honeybee the human race would become extinct in only 3 years.
Scientists refer to the bee colony as a superorganism, because the whole colony is much greater than the sum of its parts. All the bees in the colony co-operate to share all the work of the colony. Two thirds of the life of the bee is
spent working inside the hive. It acts as a nurse to the young larvae, a cleaner, a honey manufacturer, an attendant to the Queen, a water carrier and a guard. It flaps its wings to move air around inside the hive cooling and ventilating, It burns energy in a shivering motion to generate heat on cold days. Only in its last 2 weeks does it venture outside to forage for food. They use a highly sophisticated communication system, known as the 'waggle dance' to tell each other the location of good food supplies, and can travel up to 2 miles away for forage.
Each hive or colony of bees is a single family. The Queen Bee is the mother of all the other bees in the hive. In May, at the time of the greatest colony expansion the Queen can lay over 1,500 eggs a day, just 21 days later her offspring emerge as fully formed adult worker bees. So it should come as no surprise that each of the boxes in the Apiary holds between 60,000 and 100,000 bees at the height of the summer. Each bee lives for about 6 weeks and it takes 6 bees their entire life to produce just one teaspoon full of honey. However, the great numbers in the hive along with the constant replacement of workers means that at the end of the season the hive has produced enough honey to provide for their own winter needs as well as that of their keeper. >>SS
Suicide. A taboo subject by it’s very nature but one we at TimeIn feel needs addressed, given it’s potential to affect everyone and anyone. Being in prison can be extremely lonely with many downs. Whether it’s difficulties at home, difficulties inside or difficulties that have been with you a while, being in prison can exacerbate every feeling and emotion and lead to people taking permanent solutions for temporary problems.
This feeling of loneliness and isolation can lead to many prisoners seeking some kind of release, which can take the form of suicide and self-harm. If you, or a prisoner you know, feels down and may be contemplating selfharm or suicide, you can ask to see a Listener. Listeners are volunteer prisoners, trained by the Samaritans to provide CONFIDENTIAL emotional support to other prisoners .
So how does the Listener scheme work?
Samaritans’ staff work with prison staff to select and train prisoners who have shown an interest in becoming a Listener. Selected prisoners attend an intensive training course. This is based on the training that Samaritans’ volunteers undertake but is adapted to the prison setting. On completion of their training, Listeners receive a certificate and agree to follow Samaritans' policies and values.
Prisons aim to have enough Listeners available round the clock. Here in HMP Magilligan, the Listeners operate a 24/7, 365 days a year peer service for anyone who needs them. Support is given in a private setting to allow complete confidentiality (for example, officers are not involved in the conversations or call outs only the Samaritan volunteers). The policy on confidentiality is the same as it is for Samaritans volunteers. Knowing that the service is completely private often gives prisoners the courage to ask for help and talk about
what is getting to them. Even after a Listener has left prison, their work as a Listener does and must remain completely confidential.
Listeners are not paid and do not receive any “prison perks” for their role. Listeners receive regular support and meet often with Samaritans volunteers. Listeners can also, like all prisoners, phone the Samaritans at any time to access support.
The history of the Listener scheme
The Listener Scheme celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016 Following an increase in the number of suicides in prisons during the 1980s, the first Listener scheme was introduced at HMP Swansea in 1991. HMP Magilligan was the first prison in Ireland (either North or South) to introduce the Listener scheme in 2002. Since it’s introduction in 2002, the Listener scheme in HMP Magilligan has, for over 16 years, provided confidential emotional support to numerous inmates struggling to cope and has been widely recognised for the difference it has made to peoples lives.
A released prisoner, Alex Audain, highlights the amazing work of the Listeners and the difference it can and does make to both inmates and the prisons themselves;
“Because of the Listener scheme, the prison service has at its disposal an incredible tool that can and does make a difference for those contemplatingsuicideandself-harm in prison.”
If you’re interested in becoming a Listener, give your information to your Class Officer who will pass it to the relevant teams.
If you would like to talk about anything that’s getting to you, whatever time of the day or night, tell an officer on your wing that you’d like to see the Listeners and they will arrange a callout or you can call the Samaritans on 116 123. >>AF
INFORMATIONSERVICES
Support services are available for all those in custody and their families. If you would like to get in contact speak to your Class Officer or the Family Support team.
AD:EPT provides a range of services to people in custody who have problems with drug and alcohol abuse.
Adept works across the 3 prisons in NI and have vast experience in helping people in custody. All Adept workers are trained professionals who offer a sensitive and confidential service.
If you would like help and support with a drug or alcohol problem, there are several ways you can contact Adept:
● Ask an officer on the landing to arrange an appointment.
● Ask your medical officer or probation officer to refer you or at your resettlement meeting.
ChurchServices
The spiritual needs of inmates are catered for in prison as outside. The main denominations have chaplaincies but others are also accommodated. You can contact a chaplain by asking your class officer to phone the office and leave a message. You can also have a request put on the computer system or you may speak to a chaplain at the Sunday Service and make appropriate arrangements.
Cruse Bereavement
When someone dies we can feel a host of emotions including being abandoned, angry, guilty, shocked and sad. The death could have happened recently or a long time ago. Talking about how you feel when someone has died can help.
Cruse Bereavement Care are volunteers from the community and do not work for the prison service. Cruse will offer you a weekly hour-long session with a volunteer.
When you meet you can talk as much or as little as you want and the volunteer will listen and provide support.
All you need is to fill in a Cruse referral form, or ask your Class officer to contact Cruse. An appointment will be made to do an assessment, after which you will be allocated a volunteer who will see you each week on the same day.
If someone close to you has died, you can feel sad or upset. Cruse Bereavement Care is here to help.
Turning Pages from
Shannon Trust is a reading programme specifically designed for adults who struggle with reading.
It’s a peer led, confidential, one to one programme that can be worked through at the pace of the learner in short bursts of 20 minutes a session, with completion certificates earned at the end of each manual.
If you are interested in improving your reading or becoming a Mentor, there are several ways to get involved in the programme:
● Ask an officer on the landing to arrange an appointment.
● Ask an existing Shannon Trust Mentor or Learner to refer you.
Samaritans Listeners
Roman Catholic, Combined and Free Presbyterian services are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Check notice boards on wings for relevant times.
Foyleview services are on Wednesday (Free Presbyterian) and Thursday (Roman Catholic and Combined) from 4 – 4.30 p.m.
are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer support to inmates who are having a difficult time. The service is available to everyone regardless of their age, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. To make a request ask an officer on the landing. The scheme is independent of the prison authorities and completely CONFIDENTIAL.
poetry
GOOD EVENING CUMULUS
Good evening cumulus in all your stunning glory, a background of an intense blue sky and amazing light effects, your soft white fluffy clouds telling a beautiful story, an infinite spectrum of white, blue and sunset orange, demanding respect, as I look up at you my worries fall away, I wonder what it’s like to soar so high, above the earth, every so often I gaze up in awe, seeing you day by day, as the planet changes and mould into what is present day, how many hearts and photographs have you managed to capture? crowds of people gathering so see your stunning spectacle, a piece of beauty and glory as the sun dances behind you to the wonderful cumulus cloud I bid you thanks and a good night. >>TMcC
SONNET 2:
I live the alcoholic life of a thousand tries when I drink, I sleep, I lie down and die I awake, I get up and once again I try my one go at life has seen beauty, sometimes it just turned so frightening at the tip of a coin; on calm storm free days I saw life turn like lightning with lightning with thunder rumbling, you find ways of saying to yourself; is it worth it? half of the sound of the beat of my heart alternates with the heady sound of silence I sleep, I lie down and die, I awake, I try….
the ilk of God is with me most of today sometimes I stand still in essence and pray. >>PM
IT’S COMING
Be you happy, be you sad Did you even know your name? It makes no ounce of difference It’s coming just the same.
On a mountain, in the ocean
While at work or while at play In the morning, in the evening Be sure it’s on its way.
Whether near or in the distance
Be you high or be you low Trust me, it is coming And you may never know.
Did you hear the chimes of time ring? Or did you just ignore? Beware, beware, beware my friend For time will be no more. >>RA
THE FAMILIAR STING
The familiar sting it takes me away to a place of no worries, no pain
the familiar sting it tears a hole in my skin but I don’t care because I am safe again
the familiar sting gouching off for hours on end, only to awake in a cold sweat again
the familiar sting withdrawals are never far away always thinking of my next fix
the familiar sting begging for change in a shop doorway sinking to lows, you could only imagine the things I’ve done, all for that next hit all for that old familiar sting. >>GT
MIND , BODY , SOUL
To satisfy each element and give wings to time, I search for a reason that may justify such rhyme. My body grows tired, sorrow is clear to me through blood shot eyes, it hurts most when I see everything, yet nothing at the same time. >>CK
Ernest Hemingway’s 'Six-Word Story' is often cited as a primary example for concise story-telling. The legend goes that it was composed over a ten-dollar bet during lunch at the infamous Algonquin in New York. Yet, there is no evidence that the bet ever took place or Hemingway had anything whatsoever to do with the composition. Fiction about writing fiction? Hmmm.
According to ‘Open Culture’ online succinct stories were in print as early as 1906. “For sale, baby carriage, never been used. Apply at this office.” was published in Terse Tales of the Town. In 1910, another version was published concerning ‘a wife who has lost her baby,’ and in a further version, the 1917 essay by William R. Kane, ‘Little Shoes, Never Worn.’ A seven-word adaptation even made its way into a 1927 comic strip 'For Sale, A Baby Carriage; Never Used!'. This concise fiction is cited as “the greatest short story in the world.” Certainly the shortest!
Garson O’Toole while researching the story found it difficult to ‘believe that Hemingway had anything to do with the tale.’ While Open Culture suggests that literary agent, ‘Peter Miller, made up the "story" in 1974’ and ‘later published it in his 1991 book.’ Arthur C. Clarke attributed the story to Hemingway in a 1998 Reader's Digest essay, and Miller repeated this claim in a 2006 book.
Suspicions re-surfaced in 2012 in TheJournalofPopular Culturewhen Frederick A. Wright, debunked the claim, concluding that ‘no evidence links the six-word story to Hemingway’. >>PMB
EXTRACT: 209
My blue angel with a sweep of her majestic wings blasts the red devil angel back into submission away from the feasting at the back of my brain this ethereal battle, always in the background. >>PM
Whatever the origin we at TimeIndecided to try a few abridged stories of our own on this model:
Death in orchard; juicy murder story.
I have no friends; nobody noticed
His last words…I don’t care
On the third day…still dead.
It is the truth; he lied.
Boy meets girl, married, kids, separated.
Full moon, howling sound, pubs closed.
Comedian, done stand up, sat down.
He didn’t look back…big mistake!
He missed the sign ‘NO REFUNDS’
The ring was never found again.
She knew from the take-off...
Do real eyes realise real lies?
‘This just in…three hundred children…’
EXTRACT: 212
I’m guilty of love I am guilty of sin Gods and Devils live My delicate soul within. >>PM
Find a flat wall.
Press your back and shoulders against the wall.
Lower yourself slowly to sit on an ‘invisible’ chair.
Your thighs should be straight (i.e. they should be able to hold an object without it falling off).
Hold your arms out straight in front, keeping your back and shoulders pressed against wall.
Start your timer / count.
Remain in this position until you can no longer hold it.
Record your time. Repeat the challenge every 24 hours for a month and try and add 3-5 seconds each time.
If I could start from scratch I’d change some things, I would avoid drugs and all the shit it brings. I’ve got my own vendetta and it’s about to get real, I’m gonna take you to a world of concrete and steel. A jungle where only the strongest survive, the bottom of the food chain, it’s hard to stay alive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all doom and gloom, but the joke wears thin when you’re locked in a room. An unbalanced talent in an abnormal place, my soul got bruised when I fell from grace. Still I’ll rise again, because my skin is thick, I’m a candle in the wind and my life is the wick. I’ve got good reasons to be mad sometimes, and I’m a little crazy as it comes out in my rhymes. I try to avoid small people and the shit they talk, I don’t speak the lingo and I don’t walk the walk. That’s why to the Screws I stand out from the rest, every day for me is one big test. It’s a constant battle between good and bad, my conscience dictates whether I’m happy or sad. I see fake smiles and false faces every day of the week, I go blind so I find it’s normality I seek. So when my cell door closes and I’m alone for the night, I find strength deep within and I find insight. The walls and the bars don’t exist anymore, as I’m in my own little universe, and I begin to explore. My strength is my weapon, it’s the truth so I smile, tomorrow I will get up and walk the blue mile.
