An outdoor theatre and dance show highlighting how children are exploited by drug dealers is set to be performed in Bicester.
CODE, which features parkour athletes and bike stunts on a specially constructed outdoor set, is delivered by the physical theatre and dance company, Justice in Motion, who are using their platform to raise awareness of societal issues.
The show will be performed at the Whitelands Academy on June 1 at 11am and 2pm, and at The Market Square on June 2 at 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
The performance tells the story of the county lines drug trade, where youngsters are lured into the world of drug distribution.
The term county lines is used to refer to the establishment of mobile phone communications to orchestrate a drug trafficking business.
The narrative has been created by Sheffield-based artist, rapper, and actor, Marcus ‘Matic Mouth’ Smith.
The protagonist, Nicky, will be portrayed by 14-year-old Esra Marmet in her debut professional acting role.
The story unfolds as Nicky becomes stuck in the world of drug running, demonstrating how unsuspecting youngsters are bribed with gifts and intimidated into dangerous activities.
CODE will be brought to Bicester by The Mill Arts Centre, backed by the Thames Valley police and crime commissioner, who has pledged £900,000 to extend the Operation Deter Youth Programme.
This initiative is aimed at establishing contact with individuals under 18 who have been held for knife-related crimes, aiming to improve engagement and open avenues for future safeguarding options.
Law enforcement departments across the country have made significant strides in combating county lines, arresting more than 15,500 individuals and closing more than 5,000 lines since the government's County Lines Programme was launched in 2019.
In December 2023 it was announced more than 2,000 lines had been closed across the country throughout the year, surpassing the target set for completion by March 2025.
The upcoming CODE tour will aim to heighten awareness, unveiling the signs of youth exploitation and teaching audiences, families, carers, and educators to identify potential problems.
The show also intends to promote the CODE app - a digital resource offering information on county lines, including ways to tap into support such as websites and agencies.
The show has been supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Anchor Foundation, and support from 101, Outdoor Arts Creation Space, Oxford City Council and Transend Skatepark.
Bicester found itself in the headlines in October as Thames Valley Police made arrests in a "co-ordinated crack-down on county lines drug dealing and exploitation".
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