The stories of three families who lost loved ones to suicide in prison will be told on stage at ARC Stockton this week as part of a national theatre tour calling for urgent reform of Britain’s prison system.
Woodhill, which comes to the venue on November 3 and 4, combines first-hand testimony with dance and physical theatre to examine the circumstances surrounding deaths at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Written and directed by Matt Woodhead for campaign-led theatre company LUNG, the 80-minute production features actors voicing the words of bereaved relatives and others with experience of the prison system, accompanied by choreography from Alexzandra Sarmiento.
The Category B men’s prison has faced repeated criticism over staff shortages, inadequate training and failures to support vulnerable prisoners. It has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.
In March 2026, the prison was issued with its second urgent notification in three years, prompting the Ministry of Justice to introduce additional safety and security measures.
For the families involved in the production, the continuing concerns have strengthened their determination to secure change.
The Woodhill Families said: “Our boys needed help, not punishment. They were given a prison sentence that turned into a death sentence. There is a crisis unfolding in our prisons. We are proud to be taking our story across the country and launching this national campaign. We will not stop until our voices are heard”
Originally co-produced with The North Wall in Oxford, Woodhill premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023 and went on to receive the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s Change Makers Award and the Arts, Culture and Heritage award at The Charity Awards.
Its return to the stage forms part of LUNG’s continuing campaign alongside the families, who are calling for stronger suicide prevention measures, the removal of ligature points from prison cells and greater involvement of bereaved relatives in decisions about prison safety.
Matt Woodhead, co-director of LUNG, said: “For our families, it is heartbreaking to read that rates of self harm are still the highest in the adult male estate. The government’s response does not address this in any way. What action is being taken to keep these men in prison safe?”
Founded in Barnsley in 2014, LUNG uses theatre to explore political and social issues, often working directly with people whose experiences inform its productions.
Its previous work includes Trojan Horse, which examined false allegations against Birmingham teachers and governors, and The Children’s Inquiry, which explored Britain’s care system.
Woodhill is at ARC Stockton on November 3 and 4. Further information about the production and its campaign is available at lungtheatre.co.uk.