We know the extent of the work that goes on in the Booth Centre: life skills such as literacy, numeracy, computing, cooking, healthy living (including gym sessions, football and plenty of walking). We see stunning results in artwork, photography, pottery and gardening all encouraged by tutors, staff and volunteers. I'm not sure that the words ‘Booth Centre' and ‘Opera' had come to mind before this spring. But then how many of us had heard of "Streetwise Opera"?

Streetwise Opera developed their work with homeless and rough sleepers in London, after Matt Peacock overheard a comment: "these are the people you step over when you come out of the opera".  Streetwise run regular workshops and opera productions with their own musicians as well. Their ‘Residency' at the Booth Centre took place over a couple of months, working with Booth users and persuading them they could sing, to create ‘a work in progress'.

Somehow the programme was linked with the workers and slavery section of the Blake exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery. One of the Booth singers was a fan of Sixties' rock band "The Doors", thought to have a connection with Blake (as a visionary?) and Steve told us about this. The group had composed comments, using quotes from Blake, following with a discussion on the programme's title - Blake and Carmen. We began to see links when the musicians sang excerpts from Bizet's "Carmen" to us - I imagine the cigarette factory was a ‘satanic mill', not a holiday camp.

Blake's poem "The Smile" was read and the group went on to discuss a Blake picture, "The Ancient of Days", which they had seen in the exhibition. The whole group (soloist Ray) sang "Jerusalem", which makes us think of the Women's Institute or the last night of The Proms, but this occasion meant much more than either of those traditions.

Finally, linking ideas of "The Doors" as visionaries, there was a great performance of their song "Come on Baby Light my Fire", at first sung by Lance and then joined by everyone who could join in by that time!

(And for their next adventure? Actors from the Royal Exchange are going to help the group produce a play this summer!)

Workshops attracted 52 people and 13 took part in the programme, gaining a Performance Arts Level 1 Qualification - Congratulations!

Many thanks to Streetwise Opera, Royal Northern College of Music, and the Whitworth Gallery from everyone.