Verbatim theatre company LUNG has announced a major UK tour of their acclaimed production, Woodhill, at a critical moment for the British justice system. The announcement follows a second "Urgent Notification" for HMP Woodhill in just three years, after inspectors branded the Milton Keynes prison "not safe" and "deeply concerning."
Developed in close collaboration with bereaved relatives, Woodhill tells the harrowing true stories of three families whose loved ones took their lives while incarcerated. Through a visceral blend of verbatim testimony and dance theatre, the production exposes a cycle of negligence. Between 2011 and 2018, the prison recorded 20 self-inflicted deaths, with recent reports confirming that self-harm rates remain among the highest in the adult male estate.
The tour is more than a theatrical event; it is a direct challenge to the Ministry of Justice. While Prisons Minister Lord Timpson recently released an action plan involving new physical barriers and safety strategies, LUNG and the Woodhill Families Group argue the response falls short of addressing the root causes of the crisis.
The campaign is calling for four key systemic shifts:
The Woodhill Commitments: A public pledge by governors to prioritize suicide prevention.
Funding: The removal of all ligature points from every prison cell in the UK.
Inclusion: Families to be invited into the rooms where safety recommendations are made.
Recognition: MP Emily Darlington to read the names of the deceased in Parliament.
Originally co-produced with The North Wall in Oxford, Woodhill returns to the stage following its award-winning debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2026 tour will kick off in Oxford in July, return to the Edinburgh Fringe in August, and visit major cities including Salford, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, and London in November.
"Our boys needed help, not punishment," the Woodhill Families stated. "They were given a prison sentence that turned into a death sentence. We will not stop until our voices are heard."
As LUNG—currently the National Theatre’s Company in Residence—prepares to take this vital story across the country, the production serves as a stark reminder that for these families, the crisis isn't history—it's happening now.
For tickets and campaign information, visit www.lungtheatre.co.uk.
