A POWERFUL play about the deadly effects of knife crime has been premiered to 100 young people and adults in Islington.
Boy X opens with a scene of mourners at the funeral of a teenager who has been stabbed to death in the street near his home.
Actors playing his brother, cousin, and friends explain: "This is the story of a sixteen-year-old boy who had the world at his feet. Only he ain't around to tell it, so we're going to tell it for him."
The play, funded by Islington Council's EC1 Music Project, supported by the Flavasum Trust anti-knife and weapon charity and performed by Arc Theatre, was shown twice at Islington Council's EC1 Music Project in Old Street on Tuesday (February 17).
It was followed by a chance for young people to talk to the actors and discuss youth violence and why young people might turn to crime.
Simz, a 15-year-old girl who watched the play, said: "It was very inspiring, it was really effective and realistic, and very emotional."
Chukz, a 15-year-old boy said: "It was the most effective anti-knife crime thing I've seen. It needs to be played in a lot of places."
Cllr Paula Belford, Islington Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People, said: "The safety of our young people is our number one priority, and we'll do anything we can to help protect and educate them.
"I'm very pleased so many young people were able to see this play, and we'll keep looking at new, creative ways of looking at this very serious issue."
The play is now due to be shown across London.
Page Last Updated: 12 June 2009