Crying in the Chapel - Strangeways - An Inside Account

Synopsis

Crying in the Chapel is an inside account of the 25 days that were spent on the roof on Her Majesty's Prison, Strangeways, during the riots of April 1990. Like JFK's assassination for the 60's generation, the question 'where were you during the Strangeway's riot' is a question for anyone knocking about Manchester in the early 90's. Whilst people on the outside were getting loved up in the clubs of the city, the inmates of Manchester's Strangeway's were staging a party all of their own up on the roof...

Our Review:

29 April 2010

Crying in the Chapel is a shamelessly manipulative piece of work. Although it moves the audience with the power of the performances and the skill of the direction, the arguments articulated are so blatantly one-sided as to almost insult your intelligence and provoke a reaction contrary to the one intended.

Transcript theatre often arises as the author is so moved by an unjust event that he/she uses dramatised transcripts of interviews to increase awareness. In this case, however, writers Pauline Stafford, Chris Coghill and director Nick Clarke have based the play upon interviews with only the prisoners who took over Strangeways gaol and staged a rooftop protest lasting some weeks, which resulted in reforms being made to the prison system.

It is debatable whether the writers were wise to put such faith in people who not only have a vested interest in telling the story from a single point of view.Some key elements of the ...

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Latest User Review

Bob - 3 May 2010:

I went to see the play and did not feel 'manipulated or used'. The play is unashamed in giving a voice to the prisoners who led the uprising and for that should be aplauded. It was clear from the play what the issues were that initiated the protest in the chapel and it was clear how the media deliberately lied to attempt to discredit the prisoners on the roof. Your reviewer does the play a diservice and clearly has his own agenda. All in all a highly reccomended play. ...

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