'Streetwise Opera is one of the most innovative charities of this decade... finding imaginative and innovative ways to challenge public assumptions about homelessness and homeless people, and to turn stigma into education and celebration' - Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP (from 'Britain's Everyday Heroes')
When an MP in the 1990s was quoted as saying that the homeless were the people you step over when you come out of the opera house, the residents at the Passage nightshelter in Westminster saw this as an opportunity to turn the tables – if they were in a professional opera production themselves, that would help change the public’s perception of them and turn stigma into celebration.
Streetwise works every week in 10 homeless centres around the country and has started to roll out its work overseas - we have a vision that arts interventions can and should be an integral part of the overall support of people who have experienced homelessness.
Streetwise runs two programmes: a Workshop Programme ('Streetwise Live') involving regular, singing/acting sessions in homeless centres of all musical styles, performances, theatre trips, and work placements in arts organisation; and annual Opera Productions which give our performers the chance to star alongside some of the top professionals in the field. These programmes enable us to concentrate both on process and product, giving participants the chance to experiment and participate in a safe, inclusive environment - but also perform in high-quality shows where there are high-expectations, no compromise and no patronising.
'Performing in the show has shown me that if I can achieve this with Streetwise, surely I can take on anything else'
- Streetwise Performer
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