Sentence: Life – for killing a policeman who was attempting to rape her girlfriend.

An intelligent and moody middle-class maverick, driven by her contempt for the criminal justice system and compassion for the weak and vulnerable.

Sentence: Life - for the kidnap, torture and murder of the ‘slapper who stole her man’.

The reigning Top Dog, sluttish, cunning and a consummate liar, who relishes in her own wickedness and will do anything to get what she wants.

Sentence: 7 years for arson.

Shell’s trusty side-kick, an emotionally deprived hard nut, brought up in care homes, who’s basically a lost child in need of a mum.

Sentence: 4 years for conspiracy to commit murder.

A mobster’s missus, brassy, sassy and supremely resourceful - no one messes with Yvonne. 

Sentence: 2 years for soliciting and theft.

A sisterly double-act, warm, maternal and ribald, they’ve been round the block - a lot. But they’ll always be there for each other and that’s their lifeline for survival.

Sentence: 12 months for shoplifting.

A bible-bashing Christian, self-righteous, judgemental and blind to her own self-contradictions.

Sentence: 30 months for possession with intent to supply.

Vulnerable first-time offender, parted from her young baby, and terrified by the bullying likes of Shell and Denny. Rachel’s got ‘victim’ written all over her.

Sentence: 3 months for shop-lifting.

Recidivist old-timer who feels more at home in prison than out. She loves a “bit of bother” and is always ready to stoke a fight from the sidelines. 

Principal Officer, who likes to run things in prison his own way - and take his pick of any young inmate he fancies. His unholy alliance with Shell Dockley is merely part of his master plan - to undermine Helen Stewart and get her job.

Senior Prison Officer and loyal sidekick to Jim Fenner. A lazy and bigoted jobsworth, she despises the inmates and always feels hard done by. 

Newly appointed Wing Governor. A graduate ‘fast-tracker’, idealistic, warm and generous, she’s genuinely concerned for the welfare of the inmates in her care, but naive about the old boys’ network she’s up against.

Prison Officer. A fresh young puppy dog who really wants to do good and thinks the world of Helen Stewart. Shy and easily teased by the older women inmates.  

Governing Governor. Ambitious and indolent, with his sights set on promotion to Area Management. He’ll do anything to keep his own reputation unsullied. 

Small speaking roles for Prisoners Kat, Spike & Natalie, and Prison Officer/Male Nurse. Additional women prisoners and prison officers as desired and/or required for cover.