crime and redemption

Crime and redemption theatre At Volterra Maximum Security Prison, in 1998 the director Armando Punzo established the “Compagnia della Fortezza”, a theatre troupe comprised of dangerous felons and hardcore “lifers”.

Crime and redemption theatre

At Volterra Maximum Security Prison, in 1998 the director Armando Punzo established the “Compagnia della Fortezza”, a theatre troupe comprised of dangerous felons and hardcore “lifers”. With my camera I’ve begun to show how the method of acting in prison can be a useful tool to changing the way the criminal mind works.

In Volterra prison theatre is considered to be a highly motivotional theraputic method of working with violent incarcerated offenders. Prison theatre is about redemption. They learn a profession, they become actors, not only prisoners. They go on tour all around Italy performing to sold- out crowds. At the end of the show they are escorted to the local prison for their overnight.

The Inmate Aniello Arena, , one of the actors that ive been photograph for over five years, whos serving in prison a 20-year-to –life term for double murder, was nominated last year in Cannes as best actor in Garrone’s new movie, Reality.

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners after Hamlice show cleaning their make up before they go back to their cells.

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners during Santo Genet show
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners during Santo Genet show

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Prisoners chilling in the courtyard.
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Prisoners chilling in the courtyard.

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner waiting for the public from the outside for the show Mercuzio

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner after Hamlice show cleaning their make up before they go back to his cells.

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Hamlice show in the prison's courtyard
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Hamlice show in the prison's courtyard

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner during Mercuzio show rehearsals
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner during Mercuzio show rehearsals

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners in the prison's corridor during Santo Genet show with the public coming from the outside

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner dressing up for the show Mercuzio
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner dressing up for the show Mercuzio

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners before Santo Genet show
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners before Santo Genet show

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoner having a break during Hamlice show rehearsal

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners after Santo Genet show going back to theur cells

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Hamlice show in the prison's corridor
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Hamlice show in the prison's corridor

© Clara Vannucci - Image from the crime and redemption photography project
i

Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actors prisoners having a break during Hamlice show rehearsal

© Clara Vannucci - Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners during Santo Genet show
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Volterra Maximum Security Prison, Italy. Compagnia della Fortezza. Actor prisoners during Santo Genet show

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