The latest play by Bradford's pioneering theatrical outreach team aims to strike a chord with young people.

Legacy - An Urban Thriller is currently touring schools in Bradford and beyond before playing a public performance at the Alhambra Studio next month.

The production, aimed at youngsters aged from 11 upwards and their families, is by the Twisting Yarn Theatre Company, which is the community, education and outreach initiative run by Bradford Theatres.

Ian Bloomfield, head of community education and outreach and artistic director of Twisting Yarn, hopes young Bradfordians will be able to identify closely with the play.

"We did quite a lot of research around Bradford talking to young people about their experiences of living on big estates, their experiences of peer pressure and social decay and how they feel about the city centre and different spaces within the city," he said.

Legacy - An Urban Thriller tells the story of Jas and Lola, two young girls trapped in their own environment. "It's actually a re-tour and a reworking of a show we did last year. The response we had was astonishing, partly because it's about people's real experiences of living in Bradford," said Ian.

Twisting Yarn is touring 26 schools, mainly in Bradford but also reaching out to Kirklees, Leeds, Harrogate and York.

But there will be a performances which are open to the public at the Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax on May 31 and the Alhambra Studio in Bradford at 7pm on June 8.

"Our remit really is to work with school pupils and do some work in the community," said Ian.

"We do have a following out there. There are quite a few young people who we have worked with that are no longer at school.

"We have also been doing quite a lot of work alongside Bradford Festival. We have done quite a lot with the children's area at the Mela."

Twisting Yarn does workshops and stages performances for all school ages, not just those over 11. "We will try over a year to work right across the age range," said Ian.

And he believes Bradford has put itself ahead of most of the rest of the country by setting up the company, which was first set up in July 1997.

"People are really starting to talk about how arts and education are working together and looking at creative methods and the benefits they have for young people," said Ian.

Simon Ashberry

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