Bournemouth and Poole College have welcomed Boscombe-based theatre company, Vita Nova, to its Poole campus for the debut performance of ‘The Wasp’s Nest’.
The production received funding from Public Health Dorset and additional funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, SNG and the George Temperance Trust. The show follows a character, Joe, who looks back at his life and highlights each key moment which lead to him falling into a life of criminal activity and eventually imprisonment.
Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, Phil Sayles, said: “Young people can be at risk in society, that’s really clear. Our college works to help all the young people we serve succeed, to be the best they can be, get into good work or progress to university. We also work to help them keep safe when they are away from college. The performance from Vita Nova is a crucial piece of extracurricular development for our students. We are honoured to have hosted the inaugural production of ‘The Wasp’s Nest’, with its hard hitting and sobering messages.”
Written by Vita Nova Artistic Director Dr Sharon Coyne, ‘The Wasp’s Nest’s dialogue is inspired by interviews which were carried out with people who have experienced drug-related crimes first hand.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: “I am delighted Vita Nova were successful in their bid for funding from my ‘Fix the Future’ fund to support this piece of work, which is now being performed in schools and colleges. The Wasps Nest is a powerful depiction of how easy it is for young people to become embroiled in county lines and knife crime.
“Alongside enforcement, prevention measures such as education and early intervention are key if we are to tackle these harmful crimes, protect our young people and give them the vital tools and information to keep themselves away from this miserable, destructive trade.”
On watching the performance, first year music student at Bournemouth and Poole College Lola Meehan, said: “I thought it was a very heavy story and definitely makes you think about how easy it is to be pulled into scenes that you don’t know how to deal with.”
First year Childcare student, Sophie Langrage added: “The performance raised awareness about the fact that things like this can happen to anyone.”
‘The Wasps’ Nest’ is now set to tour schools across Dorset throughout this year and into 2025 and aims to raise awareness of the threat presented by criminal gangs and increase resilience of the children they attempt to entrap into distributing drugs.
Vita Nova was established in 1999 and works with people in recovery from addiction, using theatre and expressive arts not just to support wellbeing, but to educate and challenge the stereotypes of addiction.
For more information about Bournemouth and Poole College, visit: www.thecollege.co.uk