Knightswood Youth Theatre

Knightswood Youth Theatre has scooped a Philip Lawrence Award and £1,000 for using drama to bring together asylum seekers and refugees with young people to enhance mutual understanding.

They were presented with the award by News at 10 stalwart Sir Trevor MacDonald, home secretary Jacqui Smith MP and Frances Lawrence at a special ceremony in London last month.

The national scheme rewards those aged 11 – 20 who have achieved excellent standards in citizenship by making a positive difference to the world around them.

Knightswood Youth Theatre, which formed last year, grew out of a series of pilot workshops in the area under the leadership of drama worker Aileen Ritchie.

They meet weekly running drama workshops which they take to the stage to benefit the local community. The group regularly perform for free in places such as schools and community centres.

Nine groups in total received an award this year in the scheme which was set up in 1996 in memory of head teacher Philip Lawrence who was murdered whilst protecting a pupil outside his school.

It recognises groups helping their local communities by working together, understanding faiths and overcoming difficulties faced by some young people.

In the short time they have been together they have sold out two nights at the Tron Theatre as part of Refugee Week 2008 and performed in Stirling and Edinburgh in the National Theatre of Scotland Exchange festival.

The group can be contacted at 200 Lincoln Avenue, G13 3PR or by telephoning 0141 958 1640.

The group will be pleased to receive any donations to fund future projects.