Penned Up

The Hal Company in association with Suzanna Rosenthal Productions presents a new play by Danusia Iwaszko

Can words be the greatest escape?

Welcome to HMP Ditchfield, where every week a group of prisoners are challenged to write their own plays. From boxing rings to the Brazilian rainforest, from painful pasts to wildly imaginative futures, these men discover that theatre is more than words on a page—it’s a lifeline, a way to reclaim their voices. But when creativity clashes with control, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and laughter gives way to rebellion.

Witty, raw, and full of heart, Penned Up is a powerful celebration of storytelling, second chances, and the unexpected bonds that form behind bars.

Written by award-winning playwright Danusia Iwaszko, drawing on over 15 years of experience teaching playwriting in prisons, Penned Up offers an unflinching look at life inside.

Think Porridge meets Brassed Off—a laugh riot and a gut-punch in equal measure.