Trapped hits the screen
01 May 2008
Supporters, celebrities and figures from the film and television industry walked the grimy carpet to attend the premiere of Trapped, Shelter's new poignant drama, last night.
Star of the film, Patsy Palmer attended the screening alongside the cast and crew, TV broadcaster Alistair Stewart and the Mighty Boosh's Mike Fielding, better known as Naboo.
The setting for this premiere with a twist was the stunning but faded old East End music hall Wilton's, dressed to create a suitable backdrop to the evening.
Chief executive Adam Sampson's opening speech delivered a powerful reminder to the audience of how potent the problem of bad housing is in modern-day Britain.
Sobering and thought-provoking, the 20-minute drama charts one family's descent into homelessness.
The Jacksons live in an overcrowded damp flat on a faceless council estate. Posed with the son's deteriorating health, the family appeal to the landlord to deal with the conditions.
But this only leads to eviction and the nightmare of living in emergency temporary accommodation. The film closes with the hard-hitting reality facing the family: they must wait years for a suitable, permanent home; they are trapped.
Trapped draws from the seminal drama Cathy Come Home, and intends to provoke a similarly intense social debate. Significantly, film-maker Rowland Jobson (who has been homeless himself), his crew, and the actors all gave their services free.
Shelter has also produced special interactive version you can watch online. Put yourself in the drama, make choices to affect the family's path, then take action to call for change.
