WEST Berkshire schoolchildren will be taking part in a drama contest in Newbury on Tuesday as part of the Government's counter terrorism strategy "Prevent".

Thames Valley Police and West Berkshire Council are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the year 9 drama competition which takes place at the Corn Exchange on November 15. 

Pupils from  Kennet, Trinity, Willink and Denefield schools will perform the plays they have created on the highly topical theme of how to recognise and prevent radicalisation.

Their brief asks them to demonstrate not only why radicalisation happens and why it must be treated seriously but why people can become vulnerable to it and how to spot the signs of potentially vulnerable people.

The schools will be battling to win £1000 for their drama department. They will face scrutiny from a panel of judges from West Berkshire Council, Thames Valley Police and the Watermill Theatre who will mark them on their ability to include as many points from the brief as possible.

Lynne Doherty, West Berkshire's Executive Member for Children and Young People said, "This year's topic is certainly one of the most challenging.

"It requires in depth knowledge around the subject of radicalisation and where it can lead. 

"It also requires a great deal of human interest and empathy to create a performance that will incorporate all of the points required by the judges.

"Radicalisation is a complex subject for people of any age and I am impressed that these schools have chosen to rise to this challenge."

Chief Inspector Lindsey Finch from Thames Valley Police said that this year's topic had enabled pupils  to explore potential factors which could make people susceptible to extremist views and potentially being influenced and what to do should  they have concerns about a fellow pupil.

She said: "Over the past ten years, we have seen outstanding, inventive and hard-hitting performances on tough subjects such as alcohol misuse, healthy relationships and hate crime and continue to be impressed by the exceptional quality of the material produced and the work that goes into it.

"The plays are performed at school assemblies which provide a unique opportunity to send vital messages to their peers and again the Corn Exchange where families and friends can see the fruits of their labour.”  

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