{"id":1056,"date":"2019-06-26T08:36:58","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T07:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=1056"},"modified":"2019-06-26T08:37:01","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T07:37:01","slug":"murdered-for-being-different-dumfries-stages-scottish-premiere-of-black-roses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=1056","title":{"rendered":"Murdered for Being Different \u2013 Dumfries Stages Scottish Premiere of Black Roses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Young people in Dumfries and Galloway are being invited to take the lead in an exciting theatre initiative to stage the Scottish premiere of Black Roses<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poetic work, by Simon Armitage, explores the murder of Sophie Lancaster in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltbywere attacked while walking through a park by a mob of teenage boys because they were Goths. She died 13 days later of her injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five teenage boys were charged with murder, two of them were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The play looks at prejudice, and will be presented alongside young people\u2019s own experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ali Anderson-Dyer,\u00a0Director and co-founder of Bunbury Banter, said:<\/strong> \u201cBlack Roses<\/em> is a powerful and important piece of work, which we are really excited to be working on as it has only ever been staged once previously, back in 2014 by the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a chance for young people to take the lead in creating the production which will be a Scottish premiere and to present it at the Theatre Royal. We are currently looking for local young aspiring actors to get in touch to be a part of the cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust as important is that Simon Armitage\u2019s work will be heard alongside the experiences of young people in Dumfries and Galloway \u2013 and the challenges they face growing up in the region today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Roses was praised by\u00a0Sophie\u2019s mother Sylvia who said:<\/strong> \u201cSimon Armitage\u2019s poems give back to Sophie the voice she lost when she was brutally murdered in 2007.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work was described by\u00a0The Daily Telegrap h<\/em>as \u201cA searingly beautiful elegy to a real life horribly cut short and a gut-wrenching illustration of the horrors of mindless violence,\u201d while\u00a0What’s on Stage<\/em> said: \u201cAudiences are unlikely to see anything so powerful or moving this year\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for the project has come from the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandy Currie, Dumfries Police Youth Engagement Officer, said:<\/strong> \u201cHate crime of any sort has no place in today’s society, awareness raising events like this are important to challenge misplaced preconceptions and create a more tolerant and understanding community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bunbury Banter are specialists in new and experimental theatre. They have recently produced Blackout and the A Play, A Poet and A Pastry series in Dumfries to much acclaim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They plan three theatrical projects for Dumfries and Galloway in 2019, Black Roses being the first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyndsay Walker, Marketing and Communications Officer for the Theatre Royal, said: <\/strong>\u201cTheatre Royal Dumfries is once again delighted to be working with Bunbury Banter Theatre Company and we are thrilled to be able to host their production of Black Roses this July. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this project, this is a great opportunity to engage with young people across the region, and demonstrate that prejudice is still as prevalent in today’s society, twelve years after the murder of Sophie Lancaster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Roses <\/em><\/strong>is being supported by the Holywood Trust and D&G Arts Live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get involved email blackroses@bunbanter.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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