Inside the prison poetry that transforms broken lives in SONGS INSIDE

AUSTRALIA LIFETSYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Inside the prison poetry that transforms broken lives in SONGS INSIDE

Story By Kevin Perry

A new Australian documentary shining a light on the lives of incarcerated women will premiere tonight on ABC TV, offering viewers an intimate look inside a prison songwriting program led by Nancy Bates.

Songs Inside follows a group of women at the Adelaide Women’s Prison as they take part in a six-month workshop run by the Barkindji singer-songwriter Nancy Bates, who teaches participants how to play instruments and turn their lived experiences into original songs. According to the production notes, many of the women arrive with low confidence and limited musical experience, yet bring “notebooks full of deeply personal poetry” that ultimately shape their creative work.

The documentary charts their progress as they grapple with self-doubt, trauma and addiction, with several participants confronting painful histories during the creative process. The program builds toward an ambitious, first-of-its-kind performance inside the prison featuring members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra—a collaboration the women are unaware of when they begin.

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Filmmaker Shalom Almond, who spent six months filming inside the facility, was granted full access by the Department for Correctional Services, allowing her to follow the women through day-to-day prison life, including time in their cells, video court appearances and periods of heightened security. In her director’s statement, Almond describes the result as “a shockingly honest insight into the lives of women in prison and the transformative power that music can have on their futures.”

She goes on to say:

“The stories of the women I followed are woven together to create an urgent, complex and compassionate portrait of incarcerated women today.”

“Most of them had suffered severe trauma related to domestic and family violence and struggled with methamphetamine addiction since they were teenagers.”

“These common threads opened up broader themes about the direct link between addiction, trauma and incarceration and the devastating impact that both have on families and communities.”

The film also highlights challenges within the prison system, including a drug raid that threatens the future of Bates’ musical program and the women’s planned performance. Despite these setbacks, the documentary emphasises the possibility of connection, confidence and recovery built through sustained artistic engagement.

Following early screenings, Songs Inside has already played to correctional staff and inmate audiences across South Australia. According to the outreach team, the film has resonated strongly with both women and men in custody, supporting broader discussions around reintegration, housing, employment and reducing stigma. One participant, Simone, reflects this sentiment, saying “it wasn’t just about songs; it was about self-worth.”