Kate Winslet said it was ‘incredible’ Banksy had chosen Reading Prison for his latest piece as she joined calls to turn the old jail into an arts venue, as the Oscar-winning actress supports a theatre group hoping to stop the site being knocked down for housing.
…Banksy’s painting of an escaping prisoner – possibly resembling famous inmate Oscar Wilde…
…well-known actors have also thrown their weight behind the campaign, including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Natalie Dormer and Stephen Fry…
The BBC writes:
Banksy confirmed he was behind the mural, with many believing it showed he backed moves for an art centre.
Winslet, who grew up in Reading, promised to perform on opening night if the plans became a reality.
Banksy’s painting of an escaping prisoner – possibly resembling famous inmate Oscar Wilde – appeared last week.
The Ministry of Justice, which owns the site and previously described the artwork as “graffiti”, said it was considering what to do with the piece.
Winslet told the BBC she believed the “incredible Banksy piece of wall art” should remain and become part of the “legacy” of a new diverse cultural and arts hub….
Reading Borough Council will submit a new bid next week to purchase the site and transform it into an arts complex….
Titanic star Winslet described her own experiences growing up in the town and how she learned how to act at drama clubs held in scout halls, church halls and school gyms “because there was no real central space for creative communities to be built”….
“How exciting for something like that to begin in Reading, something that increases local employment and encourages people to join… it’s a really fantastic opportunity.”….
Other well-known actors have also thrown their weight behind the campaign, including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Natalie Dormer and Stephen Fry, who portrayed Irish playwright Wilde in the 1997 film Wilde.
