Grange Park Opera

Prison Noticeboard

Dinner in prison (no porridge)

On Monday 23 April twenty guests arrived at Erlestoke prison at 4.30 and were taken to the prison chapel where the prison rock band were finishing their rehearsal. There was an hour of Q&A with Governor Andy Rogers, Director Michael Moody and three of the prisoners who were in Les Miserables. Andy reported that the senior management team of the prison had noted that, during the 7 weeks of the project, all the behavioural indicators in the prison had fallen, ie had gone in a good direction.

There was a 30 minute tour of the new wing, a therapeutic unit, one of only five in the country, which has programmes for alcohol abuse, violent crime and anger.

The next stop was the catering training unit, not much bigger than a large dining room. Four prisoners (including Gary who played Enjolras with a red headband) had prepared and cooked the meal. They presented the menu to the twenty guests. After about 90 minutes, guests were shown a video about the making of Les Miserables. The transformation of the individuals from the first days to the performance on stage was remarkable.

2013

We are pleased to announce that in March 2013 Pimlico Opera will return to HMP Erlestoke to present West Side Story.

To donate to this project - download the 2013 Support Form or email us and we will post you one, or ring Caroline on 01962 73 73 60.

2012

In March 2012 Pimlico Opera and the prisoners of HMP Erlestoke, near Devizes presented Les Misérables. View the 2012 e programme

What the men of HMP Erlestoke thought...

Read Charlie's letter

"It has been the most magical of experiences to watch how the lads, under the support and encouragement of the cast of professionals, have blossomed." Andy Rogers, Governor, HMP Erlestoke and Shepton Mallet

What the public thought ...

"Having seen the show over six hundred times, in twelve countries and ten different languages, it’s a long time since I’ve been so impressed by the energy and commitment of a company working together.  It’s obviously easy to draw parallels between the themes of LES MIS and the lives of some of the cast but the truth is it’s a story about the fight for redemption against Javert’s belief that redemption is impossible.  For many of the audience, when it comes to prison, there is a lot of Javert in them.  Hopefully after seeing this, there will be a bit more Jean Valjean." N.A (Cameron Mackintosh office)

"Incredible performance and I am humbled by the work of Pimlico Opera.  Keep changing lives! 5 weeks of that probably did more good then years of other types of intervention! They had a voice and it was wonderful!" C.H.

"It's an utterly fantastic project; the transformative effect of the production is clearly visible in the faces of your cast, and the whole team is to be massively applauded." G.W.

"We all thought Les Mis was spectacular! There were 13 in our party altogether and the unanimous opinion was that it was not only the best production of Les Mis we had seen but the best musical ever! High praise indeed. The prison staff were also very welcoming and the 'behind the scenes' was a brilliant day. Please convey our gratitude to cast, production team and prison staff." N.P.

"I was searching for adjectives to describe the evening and it was so special that it goes beyond 'amazing' and all other cliché adjectives.  It is the second of your prison operas I have been to and I find them really emotional occasions; this year we had front row seats – what an experience." A.C.

"The combination of professional performers from Pimlico Opera, who were excellent, and offenders who probably had never performed on the stage before, proved to be a real success for which we take our metaphorical hats off to those in Pimlico Opera who rehearsed the performers so well, and to each of the performers who had clearly worked hard to assimilate all they had learned in the weeks of rehearsal, and fulfilled all that was asked of them." R.S.

"I hope that the offenders had the same buzz and sense of pride in themselves in what they achieved in a very short space of time and which  was greatly appreciated by everyone who attended that performance." J.S.

"We very much enjoyed the performance, and we continue to support the good work which Pimlico Opera does in taking opera into prisons. I am delighted to hear about West Side Story at Erlestoke next year - we will definitely be there." W.H.

"We were all hugely moved by the incredible achievement this show represents for your non-professional cast.  It was truly extraordinary to see their faces reflecting rising self confidence and their realisation that new opportunities might arise from this project."  A.J.K.

"Truly inspirational - congratulations to everyone involved" C.H.

"Utterfly overwhelming and outstanding by any criteria" B.B.

View the 2011 Prison Noticeboard

More information on Pimlico Opera's work in prison here.

Read Camilla watches on as Erlestoke prisoners get their big break

Read Taking art into new places is going to be one of the most important cultural themes of the coming years

Read Arts Projects for Offenders save taxpayers money

Read Can writing stop prisoners reoffending? (BBC News)

Read Libby Purves' Arts First Night review

Read Q&A session following a performance for inmates and prison staff

Read Guardian blog "Why prisons hold playwrights captive"

Read Robert Hugill's blog "Sugar was amazing"

Read Surrey Advertiser "Prison hosts hottest show in town"

Read Soroptimists International "How opera can change prisoners' lives"