News

Arc Theatre presents Boy X

Arc Theatre visited The Warren School and delivered a live theatre performance to Year 9 students, exploring issues of joint enterprise, knife crime, gangs, child exploitation and county lines.  The programme helped to challenge the glamorising of carrying weapons, to build resilience to youth violence and the lure of gang lifestyles, and to educate on the causes, effects and fallouts of weapon crime.

Students felt the performance was good at raising their awareness of the above issues and their understanding of the effects on families and communities, as well as the consequences in terms of the law.

Students said:

“Well done, it was amazing!”

“My favourite part was when (character) Zayn’s story was talked about with a moral and thought-through ending which allowed us as an audience to reflect and understand respectfully this heart-breaking story.”

“Watching the roleplay was better than watching videos as it made it more understandable.”

“Knowing this happens to girls is shocking.  Thank you for showing us this.”

“All of the stories had a massive impact on me.  I highly recommend this.”

“This showed us how easy it can be to get into things you shouldn’t.”

The Education Director of Arc Theatre, Natalie Smith, contacted the school shortly afterwards, saying, “Thanks so much for hosting Boy X 2022 at The Warren school today.  Your Year 9 students were brilliant audiences for us - respectful, well behaved and engaged. They were such a credit to you and the school and it felt like the piece really had an impact on them.”