For most people, the nearest they get to experiencing prison life is by watching the distorted portrayals depicted on TV or in films. But the reality is far different to Porridge, The Shawshank Redemption and Prison Cell Black H, as visitors to Go To Jail discover.

Featuring two (former) offenders, Go To Jail is based around a replica jail cell built to exact specifications – from the shared open loo, to hefty security door. Those visiting can inspect the conditions and interact with the prisoners to gain a more realistic insight into life ‘inside’.

Rideout's Saul Hewish, who co-developed the project, explains more.

How did the project come about? 

Go To Jail is one of a number of Rideout projects in which we seek to engage members of the public is discussion and debate about the form and function of imprisonment. It originally grew from discussions within the company related to the growing trend for 'pop-up art projects'. We were thinking about what we would do with an empty shop and it seemed the perfect environment in which to place a replica prison cell. Unless you have either worked in prison or been sentenced to prison, it is likely your beliefs and opinions about prison are informed by what you have seen in films and on TV, or read about in the newspapers. Much of this reporting can be sensationalised or misleading. We wanted to give people an opportunity to visit prison for themselves and get a more realistic perspective on the realities of contemporary imprisonment.

There's a range of prisons in the UK - old and new. How typical is the replica cell?

This cell is typical of cells that have been built in prison since the late 1990s. It is important to remember that this is a cell designed for one prisoner that has been 'doubled up' (ie it houses two prisoners) due to increases in the prison population and the closure of other prisons across the country.

How do the conditions UK prisoners live in compare to those in other Western or European countries? Are they broadly similar?

It varies from country to country. From our experience of visiting a number of prisons across Europe we would say that conditions in new prisons in places like Spain and Italy are broadly similar, but if you look at Norway for example, their prison conditions are considerably better, in part because the focus is entirely on rehabilitation rather than punishment and retribution.

Visitors are invited to complete a brief survey, relating to the inmates sentences and allowed privileges, as they leave. Have you noticed any regional variations when you’ve been to other places, such as Birmingham, London, Wolverhampton, Cheltenham, Stoke, Kidderminster?

I am not sure we have seen many differences that are regional. There have been differences in the demographic of visitors which is dependent more on the venue. For example in Kidderminster we had more mothers with children, whereas in London and Birmingham we had a mix of both locals and tourists from a variety of countries. Broadly speaking responses have been similar wherever we have been.

What do you hope to achieve with the project?

For younger people we hope it will make them think a little more about the possible consequences of crime, should they get caught. For others we want to give people an opportunity to reflect on prison in a way which is meaningful. That might mean that they are more likely to advocate for reform of the prison system, or at the very least it might make them think a little more critically the next time they hear or see someone saying "All prisons are holiday camps".

What other projects are Rideout working on/ or have planned?

We are currently working on several projects that include both in and out of prison. We are also exploring developing work for those in prison who have learning disabilities or who are on the autistic spectrum as this is an area where there is considerable need and very little support.