Clockwork Orange shocker by school
A CHILDREN'S charity has slammed a secondary school for putting on a production of the controversial and violent A Clockwork Orange.
Children as young as 12 are involved in the performances at South Camden Community School, in Charrington Street, Somers Town.
The play and novel, penned by Anthony Burgess, shot to notoriety when it was made into a film by Stanley Kubrick in 1972.
A Clockwork Orange sees teenage misfit Alex and his cronies delighting in "ultra-violence", dishing out beatings and sexual attacks before Alex is made to participate in a brutal Government-backed scheme to force him to be good.
The film version was withdrawn by Kubrick in 1973 after allegations of copycat killings and violence. It was not re-released until 2000 - a year after Kubrick's death.
The school has confirmed there is no age limit on buying tickets for the production although year seven pupils (aged 11 and 12) will only be admitted with an adult.
Nikki Kerr, from child protection charity Kidscape, said: "It's a bit of a controversial thing for a secondary school to be doing. We know when children see violence they go on to copy it - not everybody, but it puts the idea in their heads.
"It could raise some good issues to be talked about in the classroom but there has to be some restriction."
Camden Council's opposition leader Piers Wauchope (Conservative) said: "A Clockwork Orange is a futuristic tale of a 15-year-old murderer and deals with how the authorities fail to reform him. I wouldn't be surprised if many parents are concerned."
The play is South Camden Community's first production in its new 150-seat theatre.
To prepare for the role of Alex, sixth form student Adrian Brimpong, 19, was given the chance to speak to actor Phil Daniels, who played the part in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1987 production.
South Camden Community's head of drama James Dove, who chose to do the play, said: "Most people think of the film but the play by Anthony Burgess is completely different.
"It shows we have choice. It says: 'Here is good and there is evil. Look at both and make your choice'.
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