Area 6 Muster yard

Frustration

A lot of physical fights used to break out between inmate and officer, mainly because of the frustration on both sides.18

Interpretation framework

Muster yard

Frustration

Narrative arc: Climax

The muster yard can be used to explore the growing frustration felt by a prisoner as the monotony of the daily routine, control of their every movement and lack of reform took its toll: ‘Every day, at least three times a day, prisoners were counted. They stood facing the wall and the wires, watched over by security cameras and a officer in the tower up on the left.’ Frustration was felt by staff, too. Descriptions of the watch in the tower are akin to those of life in a cell, as a confined space with no entertainment and only a bucket to relieve yourself. The build-up of frustration led to anger and violence playing out in places like the exercise yard or the shower block.

Interpretive concepts

Experience 1 (Group)

The routine

Characters: All prisoners

Story: The daily, repetitive routine of mustering in the yard.

Key audience: Family groups, school groups

Devices:

• Interaction/participation—roleplay: The visitors walk into the muster yard in single file, just as the prisoners would have, then the guides, acting as officers, should line up the visitors along the mustering lines and call the roll just as they would have in the gatehouse.

Experience 2 (Group)

‘Oi, who said you could sit there?’

Characters: Young prisoner, cell heavy

Story: The power dynamics of the muster yard.

Key audience: Family groups, school groups

Suggested devices:

• Interaction/participation—roleplay: Have the visitors explore the muster yard, encourage them to sit down and take it in.

• Audio—directional speakers: As a visitor sits down, a cell heavy tries to claim his territory as though they’ve sat in his seat.

Experience 3 (Group)

The gunshot

Characters: Prisoners, officers

Story: As two prisoners were arguing, an antsy officer fires a warning shot which takes out a chunk of the sandstone wall of B-wing.

Key audience: Family groups, school groups

Suggested devices:

• Audio—immersive soundscape: A loud gunshot can accompany the officer’s story.

Interpretation framework