Arc news: December 2009
Boy X by Clifford Oliver - the story so far
2009 has seen an incredible journey for Arc's latest anti-knife crime play - performing for Metropolitan Police Commanders and Government Ministers at the Empress State Building to the passing public at Waterloo Station! Here's the story...
The beginning
Boy X - the third in the powerful Stereo Trilogy written by Clifford Oliver and directed by Carole Pluckrose, was originally developed to build on the themes of Stereo and To Die For, exploring weapon-carrying, gang culture and violent crime.
The play is performed by four of Arc's dynamic young actors; Jordan Barrett, Tendayi Jembere, Michael Kofi, and Lee Vassell, who, along with actor Troy Glasgow, helped develop the story through workshops drawing upon real experiences of living on gang dominated estates.
Boy X was first performed on 17 February 2009 at EC1 Music Project in partnership with The Flavasum Trust, in memory of Tom Easton who was stabbed to death after leaving work there in September 2006.
The audience
Over a total of 72 performances to date, Boy X with its accompanying follow-up discussion programme has been seen by almost 11,000 young people and adults across London and the South-East of England, including:
- EC1 Music Project
- Secondary Schools in Haringey, funded by Haringey Community Safety Team
- Secondary Schools in Barnet, funded by Barnet EBP
- Government Office for London TKAP Conference
- Whitehall Data Sharing Summit
- Arc's Neville Lawrence OBE Patron celebration event
- Millwall youth groups, funded by British Transport Police
- Hockerill Anglo European College
- Waterloo Station Concourse for London Week of Peace, funded by British Transport Police
- Dagenham Park Community School
- Jacksons Lane arts centre
- Secondary Schools in Thames Valley, funded by Thames Valley Police
- Unicorn Theatre for the Flavasum Trust Collection
- Ealing Secondary Schools, funded by LB Ealing
- Secondary Schools in Enfield, funded by Enfield EBP
- Metropolitan Police Diversity Stategy Launch at Empress State Building
- London Serious Youth Violence Board Conference at Chelsea Football Club
- Lewisham Youth Inclusion Support Panel
The response
“People think you are more protected if you have a knife, but you're not - it just brings you more trouble.”
Year 9 student, Hounslow school
"Thanks again for today's performance of Boy X. The performance was outstanding and really considered and questioned many issues surrounding knife crime and the ideas evoloved from gang/youth culture. It was all extremely well received by all of the students who were fortunate to be a part of this exciting and dynamic performance."
Jane Jn Baptiste, Drama Teacher, Dagenham Park Community School
"We thought you may wish to know that the value of this event has been evidenced by external examiners from an examination board who visited The Wycombe Grange last week. A stimulating discussion was held as part of a GCSE English Speaking and Listening Assessment - the examiner was very impressed, recognising the impact that the play had had on our students. We appreciate the generous funding from Thames Valley Police and would not hesitate in recommending this production to other organisations."
On behalf of staff and students: Mrs C Pritchard, Senior Teacher, The Wycombe and Chess Valley Grange
"I was privileged to be in the audience last evening and to experience such a powerful drama, performed by four compelling young men. I really hope that engaging with our young people at risk through such drama, complemented by the standing up of good role models, in homes, wider families, and the community, will see a way out of the descending spiral of senseless activity, violence and killing."
Robin Field-Smith MBE, HM Inspector of Constabulary (Personnel, Training & Diversity), HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
"Weapon-related crime, although rare on public transport, affects both victims' families and their communities and that is why we have a duty both to the victims and the public to take a tough approach to those who are caught carrying knives and to protect the vast majority of people who don't."
Superintendent Jim Little of British Transport Police
Boy X Trailer
To book Boy X
Let's keep Boy X running - the performance with follow-up discussion is available for booking now. To find out more, call Arc on 020 8594 1095 or download the Briefing Document.
Download full Boy X Briefing Document (PDF, 924k)
For more information about the Flavasum Trust, visit: http://www.theflavasumtrust.org/partners/arctheatre.
And finally...
