Harriet Walter and Jonathan Bate are among the participants in Mad About Shakespeare, a festival in Aldeburgh this May dedicated to helping people leaving the criminal justice system pursue careers in the arts. The event raises funds for Second Stage, a charity offering training and employment in theatre to former prisoners.

Mad About Shakespeare runs from 29 to 31 May at Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall and Aldeburgh Cinema, bringing together notable figures from theatre, literature and film to support Second Stage’s mission. The weekend has been curated by theatre director Nick Hutchison and features events such as performances, discussions, and film screenings.

The festival programme includes Colin Hurley’s Lear’s Shadow, an adaptation of King Lear, and Jonathan Bate discussing his book Mad About Shakespeare. Aldeburgh Cinema will screen Michael Hoffman’s 1999 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a pre-show introduction. Regeneration Theatre presents The Play’s The Thing, a one-person Hamlet by Mark Lockyer, directed by Fiona Laird, while Harriet Walter performs passages from her book She Speaks – What Shakespeare’s Women Might Have Said. Stefan Bednarczyk contributes a cabaret inspired by Shakespearean songs.

Second Stage works closely with people leaving prison, providing training and employment opportunities in theatre and live events. It is currently partnering with Regeneration Theatre to deliver a training programme at HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk. Using themes from Hamlet, the course equips up to 15 men with technical theatre skills and prepares them for employment after release, with some receiving training while on temporary licence.

Since its foundation in early 2025, Second Stage has supported 65 men and helped six secure employment in theatre, including both full-time positions and crewing roles. The charity, developed by producer Edward Snape and executive director Jo Hutchison, addresses industry backstage staff shortages identified by a 2024 SOLT and UK Theatre survey, while also tackling reoffending and employment barriers for ex-offenders.

In January 2026, Second Stage held an Industry Awareness Day at the National Theatre, with contributors from across criminal justice and the theatre sector, including prison governor Emily Thomas and Second Stage ambassador Michael Balogun. The event drew representatives from West End and regional theatres as well as technical companies, aimed at encouraging support for employees with criminal records.

Tickets for individual events and full festival passes are available for Mad About Shakespeare, offering audiences the chance to engage with a programme combining theatrical art and social impact in Aldeburgh this May.