Suggs will reprise a role he played in the West End production of musical Our House in a Pimlico Opera revival staged at Isis Prison, Woolwich in February/March 2015
EXCLUSIVE!!
Madness lead singer Suggs is to reprise a role he played in the West End show Our House… alongside hardened criminals in one of Her Majesty’s prisons.
He is to play Joe’s Father in Pimlico Opera’s revival of the 2002 musical, based on the songs of 1980s pop group Madness, when it is revived at Isis Prison, Woolwich, from 27 February to 7 March.
Pimlico’s team of professional actors and creatives will be working with prisoners playing the smaller and ensemble parts in the seven performances, as they have done ever since Sweeney Todd kicked off the experiment at Wormwood Scrubs in 1991.
Since then West Side Story, Chicago, Les Misérables and Assassins are among the musicals performed in prisons throughout the UK and Ireland. This year it was Sister Act at Bronzefield women’s prison at Ashford, Middlesex.
With a story written by Tim Firth, Our House ran at the Cambridge Theatre for ten months in 2002-3, winning an Olivier award for Best Original Musical. Suggs – or Suggs McPherson as he’s known these days – played the father of the show’s hero for part of that run and again in a concert version at the Savoy two years ago.
Pimlico Opera receives no public subsidy for their shows – costs for this one are estimated at £190,000 – and anyone wishing to donate to the project should call 01962 737373.
Isis is a new (opened 2010) institution for young offenders under 25 built on the site of what was the Royal Arsenal.
Jeremy Chapman
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