Murdered boy's aunt creates anti-knife crime play

The aunt of a murdered schoolboy has co-created a play about the dangers of knife crime, which will be shown in schools across Leeds.

Alfie Lewis, 15, died after being stabbed in the heart and leg near a primary school on Church Road in Horsforth just before 15:00 GMT on 7 November 2023, as he was on his way to meet some friends.

His aunt Mechelle Lewis created Alfie Forever 15 with Kelly Munro-Fawcett, artistic director of RedBobble Arts, after the women felt they wanted to take action against knife crime.

The play mixes theatre, music and video with the aim of stopping young people from carrying knives and increasing community safety. The tour is currently under way and ends on 27 March.

Speaking about her family's experience, Mechelle Lewis said: "Where it takes you emotionally, and what it can do to an entire family is really devastating.

"If there is any chance that I can prevent this from happening to another family, then I am going to do it."

She said the project would "change mindsets of children around knife-carrying".

Lewis said: "It's getting into the psychology and making them understand, to help them make good choices from what they see.

"We do have a problem and it needs to be addressed. We need to work together to give it a bigger voice."

Munro-Fawcett said: "I am from Horsforth and Mechelle and I are friends. Our children were at the same primary school when Alfie was tragically murdered.

"We felt like we wanted to take action and we felt that a documentary show using real-life words from Alfie's family, friends and the wider community, could be a really good way of educating children on the dangers of carrying knives and about the personal choices they can make to help make themselves and others safe."

She said the project had "taken a lot of care and consideration" and added: "We have a responsibility to Alfie's family and friends but we also have a responsibility to keep the children safe who watch the show."

She said they had partnered with West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and mental health and education specialists, as part of "a big research and development period".

Munro-Fawcett said they wanted to "help children to make positive choices but without traumatising them in the process."

"I have always thought that if we can save one life with this project then we have done our job," she added.

The show uses documentary theatre, music, and video projection to take students through the words and stories of real people affected by knife crime.

Producers said it left young people with a message of hope that safer communities were possible.

Alongside the performance, an interactive workshop has been designed for schools to help raise awareness and increase personal responsibility among young people.

RedBobble Arts said using high quality creative experiences could be a powerful way to bust myths around knife carrying and enhance social skills, confidence and emotional learning.

Bardia Shojaeifard was convicted of Alfie's murder, which he carried out in "full view" of a group of school children.

Shojaeifard, who was 14 at the time, was found guilty in May 2024 following a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court.

The following month, he was detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years.

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