Travellers' rewrite of Carmen performed at the Royal Albert Hall

The Traveller Women's Group, based in Ealing, west London, reworked Bizet's opera Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The project involved a group of women aged from 14 to 40 Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

They worked with playwright Darren Rapier and poet Ian McMillan in a series of workshops Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

And students from the Purcell school created five new pieces of music for the show Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The women's take on the classic story will be performed by a cast of TV and stage actors Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

Photographer Sheila Burnett followed the preparations for the show Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The project was created and led by the hall's learning and participation department Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The department works with 30,000 people every year Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

It aims to open the hall to new audiences Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

And tap into their imagination and creativity Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The women's take on the story coincides with a production of Bizet's opera in the main house at the Royal Albert Hall Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

The Carmen project follows a production of Tosca last year put together by a group of ex-offenders and directed by actor Phil Daniels Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

Alastair Tallon, head of the learning and participation department, said: "The Royal Albert Hall is committed to engaging with vulnerable groups and offering them an opportunity to explore their feelings about the world around them." Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

A photographic exhibition charting the project is on show at the Royal Albert Hall until 15 March Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR

For more information visit the Royal Albert Hall website Photograph: Sheila Burnett/PR