The Making of The Orchard
The Orchard is part of the wider Our Space story.
Alongside the Community and Armed Forces strands, the work made in HMP Channings Wood has contributed to The Body Measures Time, Our Space’s 2026 production exploring journeys of identity, connection, separation and return.
The Orchard was created in response to Homer’s The Odyssey, taking inspiration from its themes of journey, obstacles, and home, as well as their own experiences of how our the prison systems can work against incarcerated men once released.
The obstacles and positions of power were presented through interpretations of Greek Gods including Hermes, Zeus, Poseidon, Dionysus, and Hades. The Gods used their power to test newly a released prisoner, using comedy and their stories to communicate the challenges prisoners face both inside and outside of prison. The performance was attended by 100 people from Theatre Royal Plymouth, the HMP Channings Wood staff and other inmates.
While our work at HMP Channings Wood has now come to an end, The Orchard, as well as 2024’s production Banged Up and 2025’s production These Walls, remain an important part of the Our Space journey, a reminder of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to create, collaborate and be heard.
“Emotionally, it’s been just the most amazing thing I’ve done in prison… in my life, actually.”
Participant and Cast Member
“I think I’ve really grown through this process… it’s brought a whole new meaning to my life. Something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.”
Participant and Cast Member
An Extract of The Orchard
The Orchard: Prologue
Cast and Creative team
Creative Team
Director Katie Villa
Assistant Director Danny Laine
Set and Costume Designer Lizzy Leech
Composer Jonny Wharton
Lighting Designer John Purkis
Sound Designer Daniel Mitcham
Video Designer Nick Laws
Production Team
Production Stage Manager Abi Jones
Costume Supervisor Delia Lancaster
Costume Assistant Sophie Reed
Set Builder Jamie Andrews at Backdrop Design
For Our Space and HMP Channings Wood
Associate Artist, Our Space Lee Hart
Our Space Project Manager Becky Ormrod
Learning, Skills & Employment Manager Lianne Currah
Activities at HMP Channings Wood Hayley Bale
With thanks to Stage Sound Services Ltd, JHAV, and the staff at HMP Channings Wood and Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Our Space at HMP Channings Wood
As part of Our Space, Theatre Royal Plymouth worked with men at HMP Channings Wood through a programme of weekly, skills-based creative workshops, using theatre as a space to build confidence, develop relationships and explore identity, choice and new possibilities.
In July of this year, the group created and performed The Orchard, a new piece of theatre developed collaboratively through the workshops. The performance brought together a small group of men who committed to the process, taking them from weekly sessions to the experience of performing their work in front of an invited audience inside the prison.
The impact of the project went beyond the performance itself. Participants spoke about pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones, building confidence, finding moments of joy and creating positive memories. For some, the experience offered a chance to be seen as a person rather than defined by their circumstances.