A crew of creative Bradford youngsters will write, produce, direct and perform a play – in five days.

The Our Shout project, by Save the Children and Bradford Integrated Youth Support, is designed to highlight issues faced by young people in Canterbury and Buttershaw.

The youngsters aged ten to 18 are taking time out of their holidays to work on the play which will be performed at Canterbury Youth Centre, Arum Street, on Friday.

They have chosen crime, deprivation, unemployment, lack of opportunities and the cost of education as the major issues they will address in the play – which they just started working on yesterday.

Richard Dunbar, Save the Children’s Our Shout project officer in Bradford, said: “This powerful play will be a real eye-opener and we’re sure it will help to highlight what needs to be done in Bradford’s inner city areas.

“The young people all felt strongly that it would be a creative way to emphasise what can be done to improve theirs and other young lives. Everyone is welcome and we hope to expect some local decision makers and politicians too. The group have a lot to say and we think this is an innovative way to make people sit up and listen.

“It is absolutely so positive, it is young people-led and gives them a sense of ownership of the project and they feel they are being listened to.”

Latisha Ellsworth, 13, from the Our Shout group in Canterbury, said: “This is going to be an amazing opportunity for all those involved and I know we will make the most of it.

“We will be raising big issues like youth unemployment and the cost of education for poorer families.”

Anyone interested in watching the play, on Friday at 2.30pm, is asked to e-mail: r.dunbar@savethechildren. org.uk.