Inter:Mission Youth Theatre: Cage to stage

Beneath the high arches of the upper room of St Saviours church in Knightsbridge, I wait to hear from an exciting panel: Darren Raymond, the artistic director of IYT since its inception; Tim McInerny, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at Bethlem Royal hospital; Nadia Denton, curator, producer, event organiser and author; and David Neita, a lawyer and poet.

At the start of the evening, we're informed that Neita has been held up elsewhere and is currently battling the London transport network to reach us – as we wait, Raymond tells us a little about Intermission's history. Their hallmark Shakespeare adaptations came out of workshops that addressed the themes of a particular play, with the text itself coming in much later. This way, the young people are engaged and thinking creatively before confronting something which they find both alien and alienating. ‘A lot of people like me can't articulate how they feel,’ says Raymond. ‘Drama-helped me do that and I can help others using drama.’ Raymond speaks from experience, having been through the criminal justice system in his youth. His is a story of opportunity and support, and his decision to make the most of it.