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Not in my Name

  • Date: 7 September 2009
  • Artform: Theatre
  • Region: North West

Not in my Name, written and directed by Alice Bartlett, is a theatre production performed by young people that explores the aftermath of a terror attack in a small northern town.

The play explores the impact on the local community through stories from people at the scene, the authorities, and the family and friends of the attacker. At the play’s ending, we learn it was set a year in the future and we leap back to the present day and meet the attacker.

Seventy-five per cent of the text is the actual words spoken by young people and community figures while researching the project, which made for real and cutting-edge theatre. Audiences were tasked with advising the young man on alternative steps he could take to make the difference he wants to see, which in turn allowed audiences to talk openly and productively about the issues.

Lancashire Constabulary commissioned the piece, providing resources and £10,000 towards production costs. The Arts Council contributed to the production and the second phase of the project, which sees the play tour to a variety of performance and non-performance venues across East Lancashire.

Young People’s Service played an essential role in allowing Burnley Youth Theatre to access a variety of groups of young people in the research phase and teamed up to provide target audiences from mixed cultural and geographical areas in Burnley.

The performances prompted community partners to make demand for the play in their own areas with groups they work with and there is a keen demand to see the play tour across East Lancashire.

Read more about the show here.

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