Award-winning theatre producers, Barracks Production Company will officially open the doors to their new home and youth theatre hub, Barracks Theatre, on Friday, June 28 with a Gala performance of their newest play, Ananda Alert.

Located at 53 Molynes Road, beside the Olympia Crown Hotel in St Andrew, the 250-seat theatre unofficially opened its doors in February.

Already popular among the youth demographic, Ananda Alert captures the plight of a young girl kidnapped by a predator. A blend of drama and comedy, the play highlights the dangers of human trafficking and explores the susceptibility of young people to sexual coercion, early sexual initiation, and abduction through the irresponsible use of social media.

“For nine years Barracks Entertainment has been in the business of empowering youths through theatre arts, and we are ecstatic to finally have our own home, the Barracks Theatre — a hub for youth theatre. And we honestly couldn’t think of a more entertaining and relevant play to launch with than Ananada Alert” said the company’s Chief Executive Officer Fabian Barracks.

“I feel very burdened by youth issues. Whenever I read the newspaper or watch the news I often see some horrific things that evoke a lot of negative emotions within me, and my way of helping is to write. Over the years I’ve found a formula for sensitising our youth to some serious issues — making them laugh and letting them see themselves on stage is the best solution. When you see young students crying, laughing, being still, you know it hits home,” he continued.

Since its inception Barracks Entertainment has staged nine plays which primarily target youth, and by extension their families, and explore topical issues that affect young people such as: teenage pregnancy, violence, bullying, child abuse, peer pressure, family relationships, suicide and poverty. The productions are: Family Remedy, Ting-a-ling-a-ling, Gaza Boyz, Bad Apple, Force Ripe, Barrel Pickney, Wah Sweet Nanny Goat — which received the Youth View Award for Favourite and Local Theatre Play in 2017, Black Sheep, which received the Actor Boy Award for Best Comedy 2018.

“But all in all, the plays are entertaining, thought-provoking, and definitely provide practical solutions to some serious youth and family issues,” Barracks said.