BBC's 'Waiting for the Out' Provides a Subtle Yet Powerful Look at Male Incarceration
The Guardian's editorial perspective on a new prison drama highlights that Waiting for the Out speaks quietly but powerfully. This BBC series, while not making the same splash as Netflix's Adolescence, offers valuable reflections on men in prison through its unique approach.
Dennis Kelly's Personal Journey Informs the Drama
Dennis Kelly, the author of the BBC's six-part drama Waiting for the Out – now available on iPlayer with its final episode airing on Saturday – revealed in an interview that fear is the hidden secret within his latest series. The drama centres on a man who takes a job teaching philosophy to a group of men in a prison, drawing from Andy West's memoir The Life Inside, which details his real-life experiences teaching in prisons.
During his research visits to jails, Kelly encountered echoes of the debilitating shame that plagued his own youth and early adulthood. In his thirties, Kelly confronted his alcohol addiction, began writing, and embarked on a path to recovery. Today, he is renowned as the author of highly regarded TV series such as Utopia and Pulling, and he won a Tony award for his script for the smash-hit musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda.
A Contrast in Tone with Contemporary Dramas
Waiting for the Out adopts a far quieter tone compared to Netflix's Adolescence, even as it explores similar themes of male anger and violence. The story unfolds through flashbacks of a boy, seen as the main character, Dan, portrayed by Josh Finan, grapples with memories of growing up under the frightening shadow of his volatile and aggressive father.
Kelly depicts Dan attempting to make a positive impact in the world by supporting prisoners in their thinking processes, all while confronting his own buried demons. This journey leads to profound confusion, adding depth to the narrative.
Prison Education as an Unusual Television Subject
Prison education remains a highly unusual subject for television, and Dan, the philosophy teacher, stands out as an original character. While prisons are a frequent topic for British documentary makers, original dramas set in such environments are rare. Notably, a third series of Time, set in a young offender institution, was recently confirmed, but Waiting for the Out distinguishes itself by lacking the shock-factor of Adolescence, which depicts a teenage girl's murder and its aftermath from multiple angles.
Instead, the series finds a different kind of power in its quietness. Scenes focusing on Dan's solitary struggles with his mental health prove just as compelling as those involving his recovering-alcoholic brother or the interactions within the prison walls.
Broader Social and Policy Implications
While drama scripts should not be mistaken for policy papers, Waiting for the Out offers significant food for thought regarding the violence that leads many men to incarceration and how their aggression is managed post-sentencing. Kelly eloquently emphasises the importance of supporting prisoners' relationships with their children, a poignant point in the narrative.
The health and addiction issues prevalent among men in the criminal justice system are referenced in the government's recently launched men's health strategy. This includes the shocking fact that suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 50, a topic also touched upon in Kelly's drama. In both politics and society, there is a growing recognition that men and boys face unique challenges requiring dedicated attention.
In a report last year, the all-party parliamentary group on men and boys argued that schools should find ways to address their unique needs without disempowering girls, highlighting the broader context in which this drama operates.
A Valuable Contribution to Cultural Reflection
Waiting for the Out is a work of fiction, not factual television, but through its chosen themes and its central character's struggle with his identity as a man and a son, it serves as a welcome contribution by the BBC to this period of reflection on masculinity. Strong recent dramas focusing on women's lives in Britain, such as Sally Wainwright's Riot Women, demonstrate that both types of stories are invaluable in enriching our cultural landscape.
