An edition of a Tyne Tees Television programme that investigates topics affecting life in the Northeast. In this edition a look at the work of national charity ‘Streetwise Opera’ founded by County Durham born Matt Peacock, who uses opera and singing to help people overcome issues of homelessness. The programme also follows participants from two of the regions workshops in Byker, Newcastle and Middlesbrough as they rehearse to compete in a national competition. A montage featuring comments...

An edition of a Tyne Tees Television programme that investigates topics affecting life in the Northeast. In this edition a look at the work of national charity ‘Streetwise Opera’ founded by County Durham born Matt Peacock, who uses opera and singing to help people overcome issues of homelessness. The programme also follows participants from two of the regions workshops in Byker, Newcastle and Middlesbrough as they rehearse to compete in a national competition. A montage featuring comments from some of those individuals featured in this programme and participants taking part in Streetwise Opera workshops rehearsing. Title: Northern Eye. Streetwise Opera The town of Middlesbrough with the Transporter Bridge crossing the river Tees in the distance changes to the Byker Bridge Housing Association Day Centre at Byker in Newcastle. Written in decorative spray-paint the name above the door reads ‘Byker Bridge’. Inside participants take part in an operative workshop, one of ten run nationally by the charity Streetwise Opera under the title Streetwise Life. The founder and Chief Executive of Streetwise Opera Matt Peacock walks into his office passing several women working at computers. At his desk he talks about how his work at a homeless night shelter in London led him to start the charity and put on an opera featuring those who were homeless. Several stills from their earliest production are shown with Matt continuing to say that he then realised the need to continue and work with anyone who steps foot into a day centre, shelter or hostel they work in. Back inside the Byker Bridge Housing Association Day Centre, Workshop Leader Ed Aldercroft leads the group, he shows them a technique to help them relax when singing which the group practice. In voice-over Matt Peacock explains that the workshops in the region are now the biggest programmes Streetwise have, Matt sees the success of the workshops being linked to a ‘can do’ attitude and an acceptance that this kind of work and an acceptance of the use of the arts in the homeless sector. A number of those taking part in the session talk about their experiences of homelessness and what Streetwise have done to improve their lives. Ed Aldercroft explains that they don’t prescribe anything in terms of music choices, they respond to and do what works for the group. Back at the Byker Bridge Housing Association Day Centre the workshop continues with Jimmy McElhinney from the centre talking about how as the participants work together, they are learning new skills as well as with those who are less able being helped along by those who are. Jimmy comments that just because someone is homeless, this doesn’t mean they are ignorant of classical music. At Stages Middlesbrough Workshop Leaders Emily Smith and David Pisaro are setting up for a session discussing what the group will be singing that day. The session gets underway with the participants singing the Frank Sinatra hit ‘Luck Be a Lady’. Some of those taking part talk about first becoming involved in Streetwise and what they have gained from taking part. Outside the centre David and Emily explain that they don’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do, they need to enable people to do what they want to be doing at the best possible level working to a high standard. Back inside Emily leads a workshop in a ‘Teesside version of Tosca’ with participant rehearsing scenes from a script. One of the participants provides details on this new version of the Puccini opera that is set-in modern-day Middlesbrough. Emily and David explain it was a group decision to make this a gangster version of the opera while two of the participants talk about one of the parts. Back in his office Matt Peacock explains that Streetwise Opera is part of a jigsaw of support for homeless people in raising people self-confidence and self-esteem through music. In a room the Skylight Crisis Centre in Newcastle Simon Fidler, North East Co-Ordinator for Streetwise Opera leads a classical choir workshop featuring those seen earlier in the programme. Title: Northern Eye. Streetwise Opera A montage features participants taking part in Streetwise Live workshops in both Middlesbrough and Newcastle. Matt Peacock explains the charity wants to make people feel the spotlight is on them and that they are showing the best of themselves. In a room at the Skylight Crisis Centre the Streetwise choir rehearsing the soul harmony ‘Deep Down in My Soul’. Three of the women takin part comment that while they do call themselves ‘the divas’ when they perform with the rest of the group, they all one family. Again, the women provide details about what Streetwise has done for them as well as help find and train their voices. Simon Fidler conducts the group in a choral piece Miserere Mei, he provides some details on the history of the piece which was once only allowed to be performed inside the Sistine Chapel. A poster for ‘My Secret Heart’, a multi-media production destined for the Royal Festival Hall in London, the biggest arts project ever to involve homeless people with the northeast workshops playing an important part. Back at the Skylight Crisis Centre the choir continues to rehearse Miserere Mei with Matt Peacock explains that each year Streetwise Opera put on a professional show featuring performers from one of the regional groups alongside professionals. As he talks posters for Streetwise Opera’s Whirlwind and Mahler’s Rucket Lider. These productions give participants the opportunity to work in a highly professional show, with a paying audience and reviews in the national press. Matt believes this gives participants an extra sense of pride and a feeling they are being taken seriously. Back in the workshop participants talk about the challenges of learning and performing the piece in Latin. Simon provides details of how this was done. Inside the Blackfriars Centre at Newcastle a meeting of all the northeast workshops. They sit in a circle preparing for ‘My Secret Heart’ with some of the participants talks about working together and meeting each other for the first time. In another room participants provide their silhouette and voices to video artist Robin McNicholas from Flat-e who will create the multi-media presentation that will be shown live as well as travel as an instillation around the world. Composer Mira Calix records the choir, she will create a soundtrack from the thousands of voices involved. She talks about the commitment of the choir, the how impressed she is with the Workshop Leaders. She also provides some details on the work she is doing to create a soundtrack. Robin McNicholas talks about his work to capture the participants silhouettes and how in post-production he will make appear as if they are all appearing in ‘one amazing world’. In a studio more participants and photographed and recorded in silhouette. In another room the choir stands in a semi-circle around several microphones which are recording their voices for Mira Calix. Some of the participants talks about the installation and their images being projected in it, as they talk some artistic impressions of what the installation will look like. Matt Peacock explains that they want to make sure each of the participants are shown in the best light during the performance, he also looks beyond the show and the need for Streetwise to be a part of these participants n the future. Simon Fidler believes it is an incredible thing to be able to use music to make other peoples lives better. The programme ends with some final thoughts from some of the participants. Title: With thanks to Trevor Morris, Joanne O’Connor, Stages Middlesbrough, Nadir Muddiman, Byker Bridge Housing Association, Skylight Crisis Centre Newcastle, Liz Milner Credit: Camera Alistair McKenzie, Dave Dixon Sound Andy Bennett Sound Post-production The Edge Graphics Dave Richardson, Jon King Editor Kerry Plummer Production Co-ordinator Christine Stewart-Tilling Executive Producer Graeme Thompson Series Producer Mary Wimpress Producer/Director Chris Phipps © ITV Tyne Tees 2008 Final credit: Production for ITV