Prison no bar to panto fun

Prisoners are peforming in their third pantomime

Inmates at a south Devon prison are busy learning their lines for this year's performance of the Christmas pantomime.

Rehearsals are well underway at HMP Channings Wood, near Newton Abbot, for the production of 'Cinderfella'.

The script was written by one of the prison governors.

One inmate, Jay, said performing for an audience was a great way of boosting self-esteem and could even help prisoners on their release.

"Captive audience"

"It could help in a lot of ways, if you are going for employment it will give you confidence to talk in front of people.

"It's just about plucking up your confidence and going with it," he said.

The production is the third pantomime the inmates have produced and will be broadcast on the prison's own radio station.

Mary Stephenson is the prison's Writer in Residence, and is producing the pantomime.

"We have a captive audience here, there's about 1,000 people with staff and prisoners," she said.

"You couldn't hope for better really."