Protagonists (inmates)

The participating awaiting trial inmates are a varied group. The type of crime they are accused of range from traffic offences, stealing, possession of drugs to armed robbery, fraud and murder. For example, one of them is accused of having an accident with a fellow dispatch rider. Unable to pay for the damage caused to a motorcycle, he was arrested and found himself in prison. The youngest participant is 19, while the oldest is 48 years old. They have different professions: taxi driver, mechanic, a salesperson but also a tailor and mine engineer. Almost all of them come from poor background lacking legal representation.

They have been in pre-trial for a long time, on average many months to years. One inmate has been in prison awaiting trial 4,5 years. Meanwhile, they have been to court many times but this has not brought an end to their peril situation. While they all expressed an interest in the project mainly for the chance to be helped in their case, the opportunity to learn skills an participate in a theatre play is also very appealing. Some have particular skills, such as signing, acting and set design, that will come in use for the play.