Theatre Performance Tackles Rochdale Hate Crime

Date published: 06/04/2005

Residents living in Rochdale are to be shown a hard-hitting theatre performance to help raise awareness and address the issues of hate crime. The Local Criminal Justice Board has commissioned the Geese Theatre Group to put on a number of interactive performances over the next month to further the fight against hate crime within local communities. 

The play addresses important questions about hate crime, cultural conflict and social responsibility. The performance of the production will take place on Wednesday 20 April 2005,  at  the  Castlemere  Community Centre on Tweedale Street and in total there  will  be five one-night stage shows taking place throughout April at different   venues  across Greater Manchester, including  Crumpsall, Wythenshawe, Oldham and Bolton.

The main focus of these performances is to demonstrate how the criminal justice system deals with the issue of hate crime. The shows will be interactive, allowing the audience to have their say and choose which path the performance will follow.

The actors will begin the show staging a hate crime incident and the audience will then have to decide whether or not they would report it to the police. Depending on which course of action the audience chooses to take will determine the following scenes and final outcome of the performance.  The feelings and motivations of both the offenders and victims of hate crime will be explored and represented throughout the show.

Assistant Chief Constable for GMP and Vice Chair of the Local Criminal Justice Board, Rob Taylor said:  “A hate crime is any criminal offence Committed against a person or property that is motivated by the offenders' hate against people because of their sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.”

Project Manager, Tipp Theatre Group, Simon Rudding  said:  "These Performances are being staged by Geese Theatre Company, a team of actors and group workers  who  present interactive drama, conduct workshops, and staff   training  for the  probation  service,  prisons,  young  offender institutions,  youth offending teams throughout Great Britain.  Their shows are always lively, dynamic and effective, communicating visually with their audience.”