Gun crime play Terriers at Liverpool Royal Court

Tomorrow night (Thursday, November 6) sees the first public performance of a play designed to show young people the stark reality of becoming involved with gangs and guns. Terriers was commissioned by Merseyside Police in 2008. Written by local playwright and Hollyoaks writer Maurice Bessman and produced by Miriam Mussa,  the Ariel Trust created and developed educational support packages for use in secondary schools. Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson, who heads up the specialist Matrix team, explained: "In the last four years Terriers has been seen by more than 40,000 school children across Merseyside and the feedback we have had from the young people involved, and the schools themselves, has been tremendous. It's great to be able to put the play on for a public performance. "We are determined, with our partners, to tackle gun crime and deter young people from becoming involved with gangs who use guns. There are choices young people can make and there are people and organisations who can help them make the right decisions. Children need to be warned of the dangers." Writer Maurice Bessman said: "Earlier in the year Terriers took its powerful message to schools and acadamies all over South London. The play gained much praise from the pupils, teachers, youth offending teams and youth workers, school governors, and the Metropiltan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe. Terriers returns to Merseyside reinvigorated by great support from Mersyside Police and the very welcome assistance from the Royal Court Trust." Tickets for the Terriers performance at the Royal Court are available for £5 from The Royal Court Box Office on 0870 787 1866 or on the theatre website at www.royalcourtliverpool.com. Details and tickets for the school performances are available at www.terriersplay.co.uk