Inmates of Armenia win the II National Prison Theater Festival

The Group Armenia was chosen winner at the II National Prison Theater Festival, in a competition that included the participation of five theater groups in five cities of Colombia. The experience, lead by the  Fundación Teatro Interno and CAF, Development Bank of Latin America through its Social Innovation Initiative, explores different solutions to address the difficult situation in the prisons of our countries.  

The jury, made up of María Fernanda Fuentes, Angélica Blandón, and Daniel Botero, was in charge of rating the performance of the different participating groups, evaluating aspects such as team work, expressiveness, contributions to the play, staging, and the use of theatrical resources. For now, the 14 members  of the theater group Armenia prepare their luggage to travel to Bogota to present their play at the Fanny Mikey National Theater, in the framework of the FITB 2016, the major event of the performing arts in the country. The public will be able to enjoy the only presentation of the play "Nuestra Natacha", by Alejandro Casona, directed by Jaime Torres, next Friday, March 18th, and see a first hand example of second opportunities. 

When making the results public, Johana Bahamón, director of the Fundación Teatro Interno, stated "In this process, art was placed at the service of personal transformation, re-socializing, and social inclusion of the imprisoned population. The fact that the winning group can participate in the XV Ibero-America Theater Festival of Bogota is a testimony of how errors can become opportunities". 

In addition to Armenia, the theater groups of the jails of Jamundí (Valle), Cúcuta (North of Santander), Montería (Córdoba), and Itagüí (Antioquia) also had the opportunity to show their work in their respective cities, before a numerous audience made up of family, relatives, and public in general who could watch this experience that transcends the show and aims at reconciliation and the rehabilitation of inmates, where the enthusiastic standing ovations at the end of each presentation was the greatest recognition for actors and actresses. 

For Ana Mercedes Botero, Director of Social Innovation at CAF, this experience provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore different solutions that address the difficult situation of the jails in our countries. "We are convinced that the theater is an agent of change with a great healing power, which serves as a bridge to reconnect with society, and empowers the inmates. The theater educates in communication, reflection, self-control, team-work, and provides capacities that rescue their dignity and self-esteem. It is a live tool to generate applause and second opportunities".  

The final selection of the winning group was tight, defined by points between the first and second place. The first place went to Armenia, which presented "Nuestra Natacha", and second place went to Cúcuta, which presented "La Orgía", by Enrique Buenaventura, directed by Nancy Garcia.

The competition also gave an award to the best actress category, which recognized Deibis Castro for her interpretation of "la vieja" (the old woman) in "La Orgía". Best actor was Luis María Cristovao Carrico for his participation in "Desde adentro", a play by Ricardo España, which represented the prison of Itagüí. Astrid Londoño, who interpreted Amalia in "Los Bandidos" (Jamundí), received a scholarship to study theater at the Charlot Academy. The best Director award went to Nancy García. Awards were also given to the "exemplary guards" in each participating prison. 

The theater group of the "Complejo Carcelario y Penitenciario Metropolitano" (Metropolitan Prison and Penitentiary Complex) of Cúcuta, second place winners in the festival, will have the opportunity of presenting thier play in Bogota in November of this year.

The II National Festival of Prison Theater is supportd by Ministry of Justice and Law, and the Instituto Nacional Penitenciario y Carcelario (INPEC) (National Penitentiary and Prison Institute).