Bolton

Knife Crime Education Programme 2026/27

Free theatre, presentations and workshops for schools and youth settings across Bolton.

Following the success of the 2025 programme, 33 Creative Group is returning to Bolton for 2026/27 with a fully funded programme of creative education exploring knife crime, serious violence, fear, decision-making and consequence.

Delivered in partnership with Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Police, the programme uses theatre, storytelling, lived experience and targeted workshops to engage young people at different levels of need.

Completely free for participating Bolton schools and youth settings

The Programme

The 2026/27 programme will deliver 60 interventions across Bolton:

CUT:

20 Live Performances

CUT: The Real Story

20 Presentations

6 Years on the Frontline

20 Workshops

CUT

Live Theatre Production

20 performances available

CUT is a professional theatre production exploring knife crime, fear, peer pressure and the consequences of carrying a weapon.

Set primarily within a police interview room, the production follows the story of a young person who makes the decision to carry a knife "just in case".

What initially feels like protection quickly becomes something very different.

Through story and character, young people are encouraged to consider the pressures behind knife carrying and the consequences one decision can have for friends, families and entire communities.

Each performance is followed by a facilitated discussion.

Delivery Dates

Monday 16th November 2026
Tuesday 17th November 2026
Wednesday 18th November 2026
Thursday 19th November 2026
Friday 20th November 2026
Monday 23rd November 2026
Tuesday 24th November 2026
Wednesday 25th November 2026
Thursday 26th November 2026
Friday 27th November 2026

Two performances are available each day.

CUT: The real story

Live Presentation

20 Presentations available

CUT: The Real Story takes young people beyond the fictional story and into the real experiences that have shaped the work.

Delivered as a cinematic, storytelling-led presentation, the session combines:

  • lived experience

  • professional testimony

  • real accounts

  • research

  • filmed material

  • frontline insight

  • direct audience discussion

The presentation challenges some of the most common beliefs surrounding knife carrying, including carrying for protection, fear, threats, reputation and perceived self-defence.

For 2026/27, the presentation will also include updated learning from frontline professionals and locally relevant Bolton messaging.

Delivery Dates

Monday 4 January 2027
Tuesday 5 January 2027
Monday 11 January 2027
Tuesday 12 January 2027
Monday 18 January 2027

Up to four presentations are available on each delivery day.

6 years on the frontline

Targeted Small-Group Workshop

20 workshops available

6 Years on the Frontline is the most focused and targeted element of the programme.

Delivered to smaller groups, the workshop creates a safe but challenging environment where young people can explore the reasons behind knife carrying and serious violence.

Sessions can explore:

  • fear

  • peer pressure

  • self-defence

  • perceived threats

  • reputation

  • exploitation

  • manipulation

  • trauma

  • conflict

  • personal responsibility

  • safer alternatives

Using discussion, lived experience and scenario-based activity, young people are encouraged to challenge assumptions, talk openly and think differently about the choices available to them.

This strand is particularly suited to smaller cohorts and young people who may benefit from more focused intervention.

Delivery Dates

Tuesday 19 January 2027
Monday 25 January 2027
Tuesday 26 January 2027
Monday 1 February 2027
Tuesday 2 February 2027

Up to four workshops are available on each delivery day.

LIVE AVAILABILITY

THEATRE AVAILABILITY

Monday 16 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Monday 16 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 17 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 17 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Wednesday 18 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Wednesday 18 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Thursday 19 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Thursday 19 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Friday 20 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Friday 20 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Monday 23 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Monday 23 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 24 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 24 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Wednesday 25 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Wednesday 25 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Thursday 26 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Thursday 26 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Friday 27 November 2026 – AM - AVAILABLE
Friday 27 November 2026 – PM - AVAILABLE

Presentation AVAILABILITY

Monday 4 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Monday 4 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Monday 4 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Monday 4 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 5 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 5 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 5 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 5 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Monday 11 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Monday 11 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Monday 11 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Monday 11 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 12 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 12 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 12 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 12 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Monday 18 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Monday 18 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Monday 18 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Monday 18 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Workshop AVAILABILITY

Tuesday 19 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 19 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 19 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 19 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Monday 25 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Monday 25 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Monday 25 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Monday 25 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 26 January 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 26 January 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 26 January 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 26 January 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Monday 1 February 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Monday 1 February 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Monday 1 February 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Monday 1 February 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE

Tuesday 2 February 2027 – Session 1 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 2 February 2027 – Session 2 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 2 February 2027 – Session 3 - AVAILABLE
Tuesday 2 February 2027 – Session 4 - AVAILABLE