CODE is having it’s premiere tour this year visiting a handful of places before our major outing in 2024. Just before appearing at the Kensington and Chelsea Festival in August, Anja gave an interview to Beyond The Curtain, a theatre blog talking about the origins of Justice in Motion, how CODE has been created and the value of theatre in combatting social injustice.
Audiences can expect big jaw dropping stunts on trials bikes and parkour, that are exciting to watch. They can expect beautiful, intricate storytelling that is emotional and touching. They can expect a very real, honest, and authentic depiction of the topic we explore, namely county lines and knife crime.They can expect some kick-ass lyrics from rap artist Marcus Smith aka ‘Matic Mouth’, and excellent performances from all cast members, especially our young protagonist, 14-year-old Esra Marmet.
CODE, in the words of our audience members, is ‘entertaining, thrilling, visceral, brutal and real’. It is ‘ground-breaking, delivering both a thrilling and emotional charged show’.
We have done a lot of research over the last two years – we have collected a multitude of case studies, watched documentaries, researched the stats and figures, engaged with youth workers, police officers, and safety partnerships.
We talked to organisations that work in the areas of knife crime or county lines, and those working with families where a parent is in prison. We met people with personal experience – those with a sibling involved, people that used to run their own county line, many young people, and parents of children that have almost overdosed on drugs.
I think theatre is ever so important, especially to reach people with themes and topics like that; because we can hear stats and figures, and maybe case studies as well, yet it seems somewhat removed. If you watch a piece of theatre, it becomes much more real, and people can identify with it. You follow the journeys of the characters and can understand the struggles they face, the reasons for some of the decisions they make, as well as the choices they have. Watching a story unfold before your eyes, makes it much easier to relate to – as it could be you, your child, your friend, or your sibling.
