07/15/16 Tessy Seward, Maine Inside Out
Posted by Erik Jorgensen
On Friday, Tessy Seward provided us with a window into her work with incarcerated young people at Long Creek Youth Center. Her organization, Maine Inside Out, is a nine-year-old group that brings theatre and reflective performance to Youth Center residents. The group has expertise in the areas of theater and arts, as well as, in counseling and social work, an important combination of skills for working with this population.The group’s goal is to break boundaries – both physical and psychological– using theater. According to Seward, “Incarceration isolates people and silences their voices” and theater helps to increase connection and collaboration. The program is based on collaborative working though game playing, improvisation, writing, poetry, and music. It builds trust and relationship skills as the kids come together to perform for their peers and, sometimes, the public. The approach is based on the “Theatre of the Oppressed” model conceived by Brazilian director Augusto Boal in the 1960’s, and their work at Long Creek has now been seen by more than 4000 people since the program started.
An important element of the program is that after they are released, former Long Creek residents can continue to work together under the auspices of Maine Inside Out, finding continuity and support as they navigate the challenges of life outside. The process of being reintegrated after incarceration is a significant challenge for every Long Creek kid. “You are better equipped to handle the difficulty of this transition if you have a group of adults and peers you can trust” said Seward. “The weekly sessions for these young people are a refuge.” These sessions include some creative work as well as discussion, a meal, and more.
Funding comes from a school contract with the Long Creek, a “bunch of foundation grants,” and from individual donors. Audiences often include judges, probation officers, parents and the public. The key to success, says Tessy, is including an element of non-judgmental “loving presence” where “people’s gifts are noticed and reflected.”