Donate to help put this show on!

With the recent release of over 1,750 prisoners due to over crowding in our UK prisons it's time we took reforming our prison system seriously. Not only does the absence of a proper rehabilitation system impact the offenders and their road to reintegration into society but it affects the public and mostly the safety of women.

My name is Lois and I am the writer and director of In The Shadow Of Her Majesty. The audience is dropped into a small council flat at the foot of HMP Pentonville, we're welcomed into the modern matriarchal blended-family home to witness some of their most intimate family moments during the Covid Christmas of 2020 - remember that! During this time they locked down all the prisons and families were left in the dark whilst inmates were left in their cells for 23 hours a day. Throughout the play we see the impacts that the current broken prison system has on the women on the outside.

This story is the story of many families in the UK right now, struggling to put food on the table, battling UK poverty and the patriarchy, healing past wounds made by bad decisions and malicious men. These women examine the juxtaposition of UK Law vs. Morality "I know some well nice drug dealers" and this play gives a voice to so many forgotten in the desire to hit targets for political expediency.

Reforming the prisons isn't just for the prisoners it's for us all. This play will illuminate the need for this reform and gather new audiences that might not usually see themselves reflected on the stage.

I put on a rehearsed reading of the first draft of this play in December 2023 which you can check out a short video and some pictures of HERE

Where The Money Will Go

It's important these characters voices are portrayed by authentic actors and for this reason it's imperative the creatives involved are paid for their time. Two of the characters (Doreen and Trish) will be played by actors who have themselves first hand experience with the system and worked closely with Clean Break as part of their journey into the profession.

I'd like to raise enough money to pay 6 actors £80 per day, for 10 rehearsal days and 5 performance dates. We will be putting this play on November 12th - 16th at The Jack Studio.

6 x £80 x 15days = £7,200

In addition I'd like to pay the same daily wage to a Stage Designer, Assistant Director and Technical Designer and Support for 7 days work.

3 x £80 x 7 = £1,680

Total = £8,880

I have been self funding this project up until now and I will be contributing my own money towards all the set, transport, printing and any additional costs. We have been gifted free rehearsal space from The Jack Studio and Collage Arts as they believe in the project.

This Go Fund me is so that we can pay the creatives for their time which is precious, and with the current state of the UK people should NOT be working for free!

Anything you can spare will be SO appreciated and will contribute to making this play come to life and making sure these voices are heard.

Thank you so much in advance - and for reaching the bottom of this copy! Your donation will go towards helping creatives on their journey but also support new writing. This play has gone through a development process with creatives from Collage Voices and with post show feedback the script is now in its final draft stage ready for an audience - I am so excited to show you !

DONATIONS :

£5 Star!

£10 thank you <3

£25 Loved One x

£50 Free Programme with your ticket

£100 Free Programme PLUS an honourable mention and thank you in the programme and social media (unless you tell me otherwise!)

£200 All the above plus a bottle of wine on the night to take in

Anything above this DM me and we can come to some kind of gifting that you'd like - a big fat IOU!

Thanks so much guys!

Lois xxxxx