‘ They have this statistic about us ‘ :Young people impacted by incarceration using theater to counter prejudice

Abstract: The work presented in this​ thesis looks at how young people impacted by incarceration, experience the creation of ​their own​ original theater performances. Through a lense of storytelling and narrative creation the thesis explores how these young people choose to share their stories and ​life experiences​.The study is based on the ​efforts​ of a non-profit organization in the USA working with currently and formerly incarcerated youth, creating original theater performances. The thesis explores the multiplicity of processes involved in the sharing of life stories​,​ ​d​iscerning processes on individual and collective level. By using theater the young people are able to counter the prejudice and create resistance towards the bureaucratic labels placed on them by the juvenile ​criminal​ justice system. Weaving through the layers embedded in sharing and working creatively with lived experiences​,​ the thesis describe​s participants voicing a sense of empowerment, understanding and recognition from the performances they created.