The musical Operation Julie is coming to Theatr Brycheiniog this week. The anarchic new show revolves around crime.

Theatr B Trustee Dr Nic Groombridge is a criminologist so he was asked for some thoughts on the show:

“Crime pays well for the media. Crime stories have sold, and continue to sell, newspapers but increasingly encourages us to click on a story. We are horrified or amused by the actions of criminals or empathise with the victims. It often involves one part of the media blaming another part of the media for a rise in crime. Old media blames new media. Historically horror comics and films, then video games and now various genres of music are frequently blamed and so on. The accusation is made that the media glamourises/encourages crime.

One thing I know I already like about Operation Julie is that it is not about a serial killer. Drug crimes are far more common than murder let alone serial killing. More mundane crimes are yet more prevalent yet don’t inspire books, plays or musicals. There is, of course, the issue of which acts should be criminalised.

And the criminals in this case saw themselves as performing a pro-social role. They hoped we would all ‘Turn on, tune in and drop out’ as Timothy Leary advocated. Today others continue to suggest a therapeutic use for psychotropic drugs.

I’m going to the Thursday performance so don’t yet know how glamorous the criminals will seem or how plodding the police; but I’ve no reason to believe any audience member will go on to become a major drug dealer or even user. Crimes from the past often become wrapped in a weird nostalgia: for instance, Jack the Ripper tours or the Great Train Robbery. Mentioning ‘Operation Julie’ to people in Brecon often prompts fond or non-judgemental memories.

I understand we will get to see matters from both the police and criminal’s viewpoint. Comic coppers are a stereotypical character from Shakespeare on. My favourite police officer in a musical is Officer Krupke in West Side Story who helpfully runs through common-sensical, biological, psychological and sociological explanations of crime. Coming back to Operation Julie I’ll be happy if I can hum along to some of the songs and imagine using the play to engage students.

As a resident of Brecon I really like to see our theatre well used and think this Welsh production of a Welsh story should hit the mark.”

Operation Julie opens tonight (Wednesday) at Theatr Brycheiniog and is running for three consecutive evenings. Tickets can be obtained from www.brycheiniog.co.uk. Age restriction 16+ (or 14+ accompanied by an adult)