Restorative Justice engages through arts

from Waimea Weekly - 10 May 2023

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SARA HOLLYMAN

A play that delves into the restorative justice system and its outcomes is touring the region as a New Zealand first, aiming to engage the community in a system many never get the chance to see.

The play follows a young man who was incarcerated at the age of 16. As he moves closer to release at age 28, he wants to meet with his mother and sister to apologise.

The NZ first performance of All of Us delves into the thoughts and feelings of each of the family members in the lead-up to his release from prison.

After the play, the audience then has an opportunity to ask questions of the Restorative Justice Nelson team.

A restorative justice conference is an informal, facilitated meeting between a victim and an offender and gives the opportunity for the offender to take responsibility for their offending, apologise to the victim and decide how to put right the harm caused.

Restorative Justice facilitator Miranda Warner says the Nelson team has been thinking of way to engage the wider community for some time now.

On an extended visit back to the UK, Miranda connected with the organisation Mint House, who facilitate restorative justice in England.

After her return to New Zealand, she was asked by them to present in an online webinar discussing her use of theatre to prepare prisoners for release in Capetown,

South Africa.

“I used drama and improvisation tools with a group of men who were due for release,” Miranda says. “We used drama tools to build emotional literacy to look at how we manage anger, build empathy, rehearse apology and prepare for outside life.”

In the same online event, British author Rebecca Abrams presented about a play she had written centered around restorative justice works in the UK.

“Basically, afterwards I fangirl emailed her, I just thought it was an absolutely amazing play so I stuck my neck out and said ‘could I put it on, please’.”

Miranda is part of the four-strong cast as well as the producer.

“Part of the kaupapa of the event is to bring great arts to the community but it’s also about giving people the opportunity to see restorative justice from the inside.”

She says an important part of the show is the Q&A segment afterwards. While the play is based in England – where Restorative Justice happens at the end of a sentence - the Q&A offers the audience a chance to ask questions about New Zealand’s system, where it happens prior to sentencing.