Vex is a gripping drama about youth, dreams and darkness, a theatre piece that mixes Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men with poetic hip-hop, turn tables and text. Set in the turbulent terrain of an inner city comprehensive, Vex highlights the story of Tigs, a young boy growing up, trying to navigate his way through school-life and his dreams for the future.
Year twelve pupils involved in the performance are mixing Shakespeare's prose and Newham slang and are performing as Tig's fellow classmates in the play, alongside actor Max Gold.
Niall Frederick, 17 years from St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive said, "Vex is different from anything I've done before, the play is like real life but takes you away from the realities of life too."
Lucy Jane Andrew also 17, from St Angela's Ursuline School added, "I think it really relates to young people, I connect to the play and the experiences in it, it makes people reflect about what might go through the mind of a boy who carries a gun."
Vex will be presented at the Half Moon Young People's Theatre on Thursday 27 November at 7.30pm and Friday 28 November at 1.30pm. Performances will be followed by a post-show discussion with Simon Parker and pupils from the schools.
