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Welcome to the Clean Break Knowledge Hub, where you can discover more about our work on stage, in prisons and in the community.

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two women wearing judges or barristers wigs and gowns, there is a jury in the background

What Does the Criminal Justice System Look Like in 2024?

Clean Break Trustee Naima Sakande explains what the criminal justice system really is, and what needs to change.
screenshots of three cast members of the trials and passions of unfamous women on a lilac background

"Society as a whole are quite scared of angry women"

Meet cast members of The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women, our co-production with LIFT and Brixton House

Spotlight on...
Digital theatre

An illustration of 6 magical women in the clouds, with the title 'A proposal for resisting darkness by Yasmin Joseph in collaboration with HMP Downview theatre company'

A Proposal for Resisting Darkness

An audio drama by Yasmin Joseph in collaboration with HMP Downview Theatre Company

Blis-ta

A bold and startling audio drama by Sonya Hale
a woman looks out of the window of a prison van

Sweatbox

Chloë Moss’s Clean Break play is transformed into an electric adaptation for the screen.
Lead still for Clean Break film, Hope

Hope

A film from Clean Break
the cast of Hope embracing

Co-creating Hope

We asked Hope's co-creators, what was unique about making this film?

Spotlight on...
The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women

screenshots of three cast members of the trials and passions of unfamous women on a lilac background

"Society as a whole are quite scared of angry women"

Meet cast members of The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women, our co-production with LIFT and Brixton House
two women wearing judges or barristers wigs and gowns, there is a jury in the background

What Does the Criminal Justice System Look Like in 2024?

Clean Break Trustee Naima Sakande explains what the criminal justice system really is, and what needs to change.
a screenshot of Yvonne Wickham talking on camera

Who are Clean Break's Member artists?

Cast members of The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women share their experiences of being a Clean Break Member artist
a photo of Baroness Helen Kennedy

Imagine Another Way

Our Patrons, Baroness Helena Kennedy KC and Dame Harriett Walter DBE respond to questions from Clean Break Members.

How do we change the story about women in the criminal justice system?

Watch speeches from a joint event with Women/Theatre/Justice.

Spotlight on...
Hope

the cast of Hope embracing

Co-creating Hope

We asked Hope's co-creators, what was unique about making this film?
Natasha eating a pot noodle, wrapped in a blanket

What does Hope mean?

The message behind our film Hope, in the words of it's Co-creators
Lead still for Clean Break film, Hope

Hope

A film from Clean Break
A blueprint for Hope front cover

Blueprint for Hope

A toolkit of ideas, exercises and prompts to accompany our co-created film, Hope.
A photo of Carina gardening

Dr. Emily Hart on Hope

An activist's response to Clean Break's film Hope
Lead still for Clean Break film, Hope

Hope: official trailer

"It's not us that needs to change, it's the world"

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two women wearing judges or barristers wigs and gowns, there is a jury in the background

What Does the Criminal Justice System Look Like in 2024?

Clean Break Trustee Naima Sakande explains what the criminal justice system really is, and what needs to change.

Pride Month Blog: Bent Bars

A blog from LGBTQ+ prison pen pal project
a screenshot of Yvonne Wickham talking on camera

Who are Clean Break's Member artists?

Cast members of The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women share their experiences of being a Clean Break Member artist

Visit the store

a photo of a stack of book, with Dixon and Daughters by Deborah Bruce on top
Find books from Clean Break
Keep us going
Support Clean Break
Natasha eating a pot noodle, wrapped in a blanket

What does Hope mean?

The message behind our film Hope, in the words of it's Co-creators
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About us

a production photo from more than we can bear at the Almeida theatre, the cast are taking their bows on stage
Clean Break changes lives and changes minds through theatre – on stage, in prison and in the community. We produce ground-breaking plays with women’s voices at the heart of our work and use theatre to transform the lives of women with experience of the criminal justice system or at risk of entering it.

Our History

Clean Break Theatre Company with the Mayor of Camden outside HMP Holloway, 1986
Clean Break was established by two women in prison in 1979, at HMP Askham Grange, who believed that theatre could bring the hidden stories of women who are criminalised to a wider audience. Explore Clean Break’s radical and unique story in our interactive digital archive.
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