Glyndebourne completed the first year of a three year project with a very successful performance in H. M. P. Lewes in June 2007. During workshops which ran throughout May, prisoners composed music, wrote libretti, created props and set, and rehearsed their own opera, which was then performed to an invited audience of other inmates, prison governors and Glyndebourne staff. The work was based around Macbeth and the artistic team spent the first few sessions introducing themes and performance techniques to the prisoners before an intensive week of rehearsals leading up to the performance.
The scheme, developed by Glyndebourne, encourages young offenders to learn creatively, taking an opera in our current repertoire as a starting point. The project has been developed with a view to increasing the use of music technology and multi-media software within the arts in the prison’s education department. To this end, Glyndebourne has been able to give the Education department two iMac computers and recording equipment for use in this project and for the day to day work of the education department.
The project started in February with a professional development day at Glyndebourne involving 20 prison officers and education staff from
H. M. P. Lewes.
We are very grateful for the support of the Equitable Charitable Trust, which has fully funded this project.
Artists
Simon Gunton – musician and music technology tutor. Simon has been able to bring many years of experience of working with music in prisons to the project. He is currently developing links between our work, and courses and qualifications based around numeracy and literacy linked to music, which can be delivered to prisoners.
Sharon Jones – director. Sharon has worked for Glyndebourne for many years, leading youth groups and developing drama in prisons.
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Other Current Projects
Past Projects
Supporting Glyndebourne Education Projects