A  poetic radio drama-documentary  - Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, an elegy to a student who died after being attacked in Stubbeylee Park, Bacup, Lancashire – is to be restaged for the theatre in Manchester. In Black Roses Sophie tells her own story through a series of poems by Simon Armitage, alongside the words of her mother, Sylvia Lancaster. The piece provoked an unprecedented response when it premiered on Radio 4 last year, winning the BBC Audio and Music best speech programme of the year award. 

Now re-imagined for the Royal Exchange theatre’s Studio in Manchester, with Rachel Austin and Coronation Street’s Julie Hesmondhalgh, Black Roses is co-directed by Royal Exchange artistic director Sarah Frankcom and award-winning BBC Radio drama producer Susan Roberts. The production is being staged from 19-29 September. More details here 

On 11 August 2007, Sophie was 20 years old, had just passed her A-Levels and was working out what to do with her life. She was killed because she dressed differently. Sophie suffered fatal injuries while cradling her boyfriend Rob's head in an attempt to protect him from a ferocious attack by a group of youths. Rob survived but Sophie went into a coma and never recovered. Sophie and Rob expressed their individuality as creative artistic people through goth-style clothes, piercings and make-up, which provoked the fatal attack.

The Guardian has given it four stars in a review, which you can read here