The Red Rose Chain film and theatre group helped 20 young offenders to research The Wildman of Orford, a 13th-century folk tale about a merman caught in a fisherman’s nets and imprisoned in Orford Castle where he was cruelly treated. The young men, from the Carlford Unit of Warren Hill Young Offenders Institution in Woodbridge, explored different versions of the story and woodcut prints inspired by it. With the help of writers and film-makers, they also scripted and performed in a film telling a contemporary version of Wildman. Public screenings of the film have been held across the region. As a result of the project, the participants learned a range of new skills and gained confidence in using their creativity.
"The Wildman project gave young offenders the chance to explore their attitudes towards the past and look at how it can be used to think creatively about the future." David Newborn, Red Rose Chain