Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (https://jjie.org/tag/shakespeare/)
When Michael Khanlarian began teaching incarcerated youth about the work of William Shakespeare, he never expected them to develop a rap about a 16th-century play. Using text from the play “Henry V,” a play about the titular British king and his rise to power, students created a cypher — a kind of freestyle rap battle — using Henry’s speeches.
Children who land in juvenile court in Berkshire County, Massachusetts may end up on stage, reciting Shakespeare. Retired Judge Paul Perachi worked with a theater company to develop the program for teens convicted of violent crimes. He thought working with theater professionals would help them develop self esteem, communication skills, and manager their anger better. In the last 10 years, the program has graduated 200 kids with some success. For some kids, it’s the first time they’ve been praised. 15 year old Tim, convicted of assault and battery, thought he’d be locked up. “Assault and battery and you hand me a sword in Shakespeare? No, I didn't think that was going to happen at all”
Voice of America profiles the program, which won an award from the White House.