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Inspired by theatre to exit life of knife crime
Amar Singh6 Nov 2008
A FORMER criminal starring in a new play that tackles knife and youth violence told today how drama had turned round his life.
Vinnie Martin, 42, is one of six former criminals to star in Any Which Way, a production on this month which has already been praised by Evening Standard critic Nicholas de Jongh.
Any Which Way, by acclaimed 23-year-old writer David Watson, opened this week and is based on the true stories of the show's cast. The six men turned to acting after being released from Wormwood Scrubs and Pentonville prisons.
The one-hour play has already been seen by thousands of teenagers across inner-city schools in London. It is now at the Only Connect Theatre in Camden and was described by de Jongh as having actors with "power and pathos".
It tells the story of two teenage friends: one stabs the other and then goes on to seek redemption.
The work was commissioned by Only Connect, the charity founded by David Cameron's former speechwriter Danny Kruger , who was behind the infamous "hug a hoodie" speech.
The creative arts company was set up for former offenders and young people at risk of crime, and Mr Martin said Any Which Way had inspired him to want to work in acting.
"I grew up on the Chalk Hill estate in Wembley, a notorious estate with high levels of drugs and crime," he said. "I come from a one-parent family and as a youth my role models were the guys with fast cars and pretty girls.
"They were criminals. So I drifted and got involved in crime. I had my first prison sentence when I was 17 for ABH.
"Ultimately, I was in and out of prison for theft and drug-related offences and ended up in HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
"One day, one of my friends in prison brought Emma Kruger [Mr Kruger's wife] to my cell door. She asked me if I wanted to act and I said 'no'. She was persistent though and eventually I decided to get involved."
Now, Mr Martin is a qualified fitness instructor and has just completed an IT course. He still lives in Wembley but has moved out of Chalk Hill.
Mr Martin plays a "violent and schizophrenic" character in the play. "I rob one of the characters to show that for every bad man there is a badder man. It's part of the play's message," he said. "When we performed it in schools a lot of the kids really liked it.
"I was lucky to have Only Connect but I still had to make that choice between going with them and going back to a life of crime and drugs. That's the point we give people: you always have a choice. I'm a star in my own little circle and that's good enough for me. My life is clean and peaceful and I look forward to every single day."
Mr Watson, who grew up in Islington, said: "It's been fascinating to work with non-professional actors who bring so much to the table. They have such a passion and commitment."
Any Which Way is at the Only Connect Theatre in Camden until 29 November. Tickets start at £15.
