Curt Tofteland, the founder of the Shakespeare Behind Bars programme in United States prisons, will be visiting New Zealand later this month to explain the role art, theatre and the works of William Shakespeare can play in the rehabilitation of offenders.
He is the fifth Creative Fellow of the University of Auckland's Creative Thinking Project, and will be giving public presentations in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from 18 to 28 May. The Creative Thinking Project intends to increase people's understanding of the creative process and how it can enrich an individual's and a community's wellbeing, development and prosperity.
Mr Tofteland has 37 years' experience working in professional theatre, as a director, actor, producer, playwright, writer, teacher, programme developer, and prison arts practitioner. Shakespeare Behind Bars, which he started twenty years ago, is an internationally acclaimed programme which provides offenders and ex-offenders with theatrical experiences, aimed at helping them overcome various personal and social issues through the development of important life skills. Ultimately, this contributes to their reintegration into society.
Associate Professor Peter O'Connor of the University of Auckland's Creative Thinking board says Tofteland has a deep understanding of how creativity can change people's lives for the better.
"As a board, we were particularly interested in how creativity can impact on the lives of prisoners, young people in youth justice and those recently released from prison."
