Voices from Prison

Koestler Arts’ annual event, Voices from Prison, returns to celebrate poetry, spoken word and music from artists in the criminal justice system.

This vibrant and inspiring evening will feature poetry performed by artists associated with Koestler Arts, as well as music and written work submitted into our annual awards, including poems from the bi-annual Koestler Voices Anthology.

Age recommendation: 16+

This year’s event will be hosted by Lady Unchained – the editor of Volume 5 of the Koestler Voices Anthology.

Lady Unchained is a poet and author of her debut book - Behind Bars on Punishment, Prison and Release. She is a performer, Award-Winning Broadcaster for National Prison Radio, Mentor, Artist Manager, 2 x TedX Speaker, Facilitator, Curator, Chair for the NCJAA Anne Peaker Lecture 2020, Advocate for Life After prison, and Creative Director of Becoming Unchained CIC.

“My life ended and began with a prison sentence; those metal doors awoke the faith in me” – Lady Unchained

Lady Unchained’s mission is to prove that there is life after prison. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Unchained Poetry now Becoming Unchained CIC, an Artistic Mentoring Program for artists with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System. 

She hosted Unchained Night’s in partnership with Artsadmin at Toynbee Studios for five years, a night of inspirational storytelling through poetry and music. Lady Unchained runs poetry workshops in prisons and in the community in Women Centres to help people with lived experience of the criminal justice system find their creative voice. 

Standard Ticket (£15): Entry to the event

Patron of Arts Ticket (£20): Entry to the event + £5 donation to Koestler Arts

Premium Ticket (£25): Entry to the event + a copy of Vol.5 Koestler Voices Anthology

Koestler Arts believes in the power of the arts to unlock hope, talent and potential in the lives of people in the criminal justice system. We work with people in secure settings and in the community across the UK including Prisons, the Probation Service, Secure Hospitals, Immigration Detention Centres and Youth Justice Services. Find out more about Koestler Arts.

Koestler Arts' work with creative writing and poetry in 2026 was supported by Serco Foundation.

This event is generously supported by AtkinsRéalis.