San Quentin Inmates Performing Shakespeare, Play About Veteran Suicides

Marin Shakespeare Company’s Lynn Baker takes notes during rehearsal for a similar program at Solano State Prison. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Corrections

By Bay City News Service

San Quentin State Prison inmates are performing two plays by William Shakespeare and an inmate-written play about issues facing military veterans this month, according to a spokesman for the prison.

Inmates will perform “Julius Caesar” on May 15, the veterans’ play on May 21 and “Macbeth” on May 22.

The plays will be performed under the direction of the Marin Shakespeare Company’s Lesley Currier and Suraya Keating. They have been preparing for the performances for the past eight months, San Quentin prison
spokesman Lt. Sam Robinson said.

A third group of men from the inmate group Veterans Healing Veterans have created an autobiographical play about why many military veterans commit suicide and what can be done about it, Robinson said.

The audience will include outside guests who also are veterans, and the play will be followed by a discussion moderated by leaders of Veterans Healing Veterans.