From convict era to concert hall

A new collaboration between the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and prison inmates aims to build empathy, self-esteem, writing skills and community engagement.

The Convict Monologues team; Charles Parkinson ( Artistic Director, Tasmanian Theatre Company), Natasha Woods (Sports and Recreation Officer, Risdon Prison), playwright and project coordinator Paul McIntyre, composer Chris Williams.

Australian composer Chris Williams has been commissioned by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) to compose music for a November performance of monologues written by inmates at Risdon Prison, near Hobart.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts