Powerful school theatre tour tackling child criminal exploitation reaches Derby

A powerful theatre production tackling child criminal exploitation is touring primary schools in Derby, reaching more than 1,300 pupils at a critical stage in their development.

Schools across Derby are taking part in the tour as part of wider efforts to help local pupils understand the risks of grooming and equip them with the knowledge to stay safe.

Created by production company Breaking Barriers, Crossing the Line is a monologue and workshop programme designed specifically for Year 5 and 6 pupils, an age widely recognised as key for early intervention before exposure to exploitation risks increases.

Funded by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), the programme is being delivered free of charge to schools, combining live performance with facilitated discussion, film and classroom resources to support long-term safeguarding education.

At the centre of the programme is a 20-minute live monologue following a young person who has been groomed into criminal activity, helping pupils understand the realities of exploitation in an age-appropriate way. The performance forms part of a wider package including a pre-session film, guided discussion and follow-up classroom activities, enabling schools to continue conversations around grooming, peer pressure and healthy relationships beyond the session itself.

Evaluation shows a significant impact on pupils’ understanding, with awareness of grooming increasing by 60% and understanding of peer pressure rising by 33%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of combining creative storytelling with facilitated discussion.

The Spring 2026 tour will deliver 19 sessions across 14 schools in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Derby, building on a strong track record of national delivery. Since 2019, Crossing the Line has reached over 13,000 pupils across the country, and is set to reach an additional 1,300 students this Spring. In total, the programme has engaged more than 200 schools, reflecting growing demand from educators for preventative, age-appropriate interventions.

Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director at Breaking Barriers, said: “We are incredibly proud to see Crossing the Line expand into Derby. The project was created in direct response to the growing issue of child criminal exploitation and the grooming of young people into criminal activity, something affecting communities across the country. Having already engaged over 200 schools, we have seen how powerful honest, creative storytelling can be in helping young people recognise the signs of exploitation and understand where to seek advice and support.”

The tour is funded by the NCLCC, which supports initiatives focused on prevention and early education to tackle the threat posed by County Lines networks.

Superintendent Dan Mitchell from the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) said: “Education and prevention are vital to tackling the threat posed by exploitative County Lines drug networks. Breaking Barriers’ approach brings together powerful, engaging theatre with tailored support for educators and school safeguarding staff, followed by workshops that help children consolidate and apply their learning.

“The theatre production engages pupils in an age-appropriate way, without diluting the seriousness of the message, and the accompanying workshops and activity resources provide real depth and long-term value.

“The NCLCC is proud to support this initiative, and we look forward to hearing the feedback from the schools taking part.”

Schools that have previously taken part highlight both the emotional impact and the practical value in supporting safeguarding education.

Breaking Barriers is an award-winning production company creating theatre, immersive experiences and film that tackles complex social issues affecting young people, including child criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, hate crime and youth violence. Its work focuses on amplifying unheard voices and delivering creative interventions that educate, empower and help pupils stay safe, with previous collaborations spanning police forces, local authorities and schools across the UK.

Schools interested in booking future sessions or learning more can contact Abigail Hellam, Tour Producer, at breakingbarrierstours@gmail.com