Prison theater

Inmates at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo learn the pavane, a 16th century processional dance, for their production of “Rounding Shakespeare,” a collaboration of the colony’s Arts in Corrections program and the London Shakespeare Workout Prison Project.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Wall, executive director of LSW Prison Project and a co-founder of the program, directs inmate William Brown in a rehearsal of the show, which opens Wednesday night for a three-night run before an inmate audience at the California Men’s Colony.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

The London Shakespeare Workout Prison Project pairs professional actors with inmates and ex-cons in its theater programs. Here, professional actor Cornelius Macarthy, right, rehearses with inmate Herbert Wells.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

From left, inmate Perry Archie, professional actor Cornelius Macarthy and director Bruce Wall go over the script for “Rounding Shakespeare: In a Kingdom of One’s Own.” The musical celebrates the works of the Bard and includes the words of Tennyson, Lincoln, Jean Anouilh and Jerome Kern, plus sonnets and other writings by inmates and former inmates.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Some inmate actors say they were lured into the program by Deborah Tobola, a resident artist and writer who serves as a facilitator in the Arts in Corrections program at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. She offered them a choice: the Bard or “the yard.”  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

California Men’s Colony inmate Perry Archie during rehearsal.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Inmate Najee Bright rehearses the production of “Rounding Shakespeare.”  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)