Commissioned by The Crown Prosecution Service and The Devon Racial Equality Council, the play AGGRAVATED TRESPASS written by Lyn Ferrand was presented initially to an audience of 150 judges, magistrates and police.

“A polished cast of actors delivered a telling script raising a number of highly pertinent issues around racism in rural communities. Peter Ellis (Chief Inspector Brownlow from ‘The Bill’) played a newly appointed JP who found himself hosting a ‘difficult’ dinner party where his student daughter introduced her black fiance and his barrister sister to two family friends whose attitudes to ethnic minorities were sadly all too familiar. The play required its audience to think carefully about how black people are received in the prosperous shires and how ‘liberal’ facades can so easily mask deeply irrational prejudices.”

Performances followed by discussion. Guest speaker – Darcus Howe.

‘A polished cast of actors delivered a telling script raising a number of highly pertinent issues around racism in rural communities. Peter Ellis (Chief Inspector Brownlow from ‘The Bill’) played a newly appointed JP who found himself hosting a ‘difficult’ dinner party where his student daughter introduced her black fiance and his barrister sister to two family friends whose attitudes to ethnic minorities were sadly all too familiar. The play required its audience to think carefully about how black people are received in the prosperous shires and how ‘liberal’ facades can so easily mask deeply irrational prejudices.’