Prison
WRITERS IN PRISON NETWORK
In 1999-2001 Hugh worked for the Network as a writer for two days a week at HMP Brixton. His main project was to use themes to link the inmates’ work to published writing: he produced a series of anthologies of creative writing – these included excerpts from published authors but mostly writing by the inmates themselves. It became a shared forum.
Hugh comments:
This took me away from the world of film making as there were too many restrictions in the prison for that activity to be achievable. I found the whole experience very rewarding. I think it has fed into my own creative work and also helped my abilities to teach
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NOT SHUT UP
He was taken with the idea mooted by Michael Mulkerrin and Anna Robinson, both then also working at HMP Brixton, to start a magazine funded outside any one prison but serving several - all London’s jails, in fact. This was to become NOT SHUT UP - a name Hugh conjured up for a public reading the three of them organised of prisoners’ writing held at Brixton Library.
Issues One to Six were designed and edited by Michael with Anna undertaking the editing and presenting of the poetry section. The first three issues are no longer available but copies of all Issues from 4 onwards may be obtained from Hugh price £5 inc P&P - send a MESSAGE via the contact page.
INTERVIEWS
All issues have featured an interview with someone who has been in prison but gone on to become a professional writer: 1) Ronan Bennett 2) Ed Jones 3) Jimmy Boyle 4) Alex Wheatle 5) Valerie Mason-John 6) Pat MacEnulty 7) Caspar Walsh 8) Raphael Rowe 9) Dean Stalham and 10) Erwin James
WATCH THIS SPACE
The seventh issue of this 50 page magazine, re-launched with a new design, appeared in October 07, edited by Lilian Pizzichini. Hugh took over as Managing Editor from Issue 8 -this, plus Issues 9 and 10 came out this year. We are now seeking a better funding situation and hope to continue with the magazine in 2009: the next issue is scheduled for April.
5000 copies are distributed free to 8 jails in London and it is increasingly being stocked by prison libraries outside London. It is available also on subscription to individuals for £15 a year.
The NOT SHUT UP website is now up and running www.notshutup.org
The project has enjoyed a long and supprotive connection with the Writers In Prison Network www.writersinprisonnetwork.org