This book explores prison arts in Australia, USA, UK, and Chile, and creates a new framework for understanding its practices. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests music, theatre, poetry, and dance can contribute to prisoner wellbeing, management, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Performing Arts in Prison represents a range of distinct perspectives on the subject, from an inspector of prisons to the voice of the prisoner. The book includes a spectrum of arts approaches and models of practice alongside theory, critical commentary, and accounts of personal experience to present a full analysis of the value and effects of creative arts in prison.

Michael Balfour is chair of Applied Theatre in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences at Griffith University. Brydie-Leigh Bartleet is director of the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre. Linda Davey is a psychologist, theatre maker, arts educator, and academic, and was research fellow with the Captive Audiences project based at Griffith University. John Rynne is associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University. Huib Schippers is affiliate professor of music education at the University of Washington School of Music.