A NEW play exploring the devastating impact of knife crime is to be performed for pupils at schools in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

“Balisong” charts the journey of three friends through the final weeks of school as they wonder what should they do about one of their friends deciding to carry a knife.

Aiming to inspire young people to stand up and speak out, the play will be performed in 95 schools across every local authority in Scotland, and is set to reach 25,000 pupils over the next six months.

Along with the play, a post-performance workshop will draw out key themes and ask the audiences of school pupils to reflect on the central question – what would you do if someone you knew was carrying a knife?

To develop the schools tour further, No Knives, Better Lives (NKBL) has developed a new lesson plan for secondary schools based on Balisong.

Through the resource, young people will understand why it is important to do something if they know that someone else is carrying a knife. 

The Gazette:

Humza Yousaf will attend a performance of the play today 

The resource will be given to each school on the tour.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP is due to attend a performance at Stewarton Academy in East Ayrshire today (Wednesday).

He said: “I am pleased to say the Scottish Government is providing an additional £25,000 to YouthLink Scotland this year to ensure that Balisong will be seen in every local authority throughout 2018/19, including a showing in HMYOI Polmont.”

Emily Beever, national co-ordinator for NKBL at YouthLink Scotland, said: “In the last decade, the level of knife crime in Scotland has drastically reduced, but one incident is still one too many. 

“Work with young people is key to continuing to prevent knife crime. 

“Balisong has given us an exciting new way to talk to all young people about their role in preventing knife carrying through peer support. 

“The feedback has shown that already more than 12,000 young people will think twice before picking up a knife.”