Over 300 young people from the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area recently came to Portadown Town Hall to watch a hard-hitting and impactful theatre production based on the harrowing true story of a 16-year-old boy who tragically lost his life to an MDMA overdose in 2014.
The play, called ‘I Love You Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die’, delivered a powerful, verbatim account of the events leading up to the death of teenager Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, as told by his family and friends.
This event was organised by the ABC Policing and Community Safety Partnership, and in addition to the play, attendees also participated in an engaging workshop with the cast, hearing firsthand from Fiona Spargo-Mabbs – Daniel’s mother – as well as Sandra Larmour. Their deeply personal accounts reinforced the life-changing impact of drug misuse and the critical need for open conversations around the issue.
The workshop also featured presentations from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Lydia Scholes from the Public Health Agency – Southern Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (PHA – SDACT), further enriching the discussion with professional insights and expertise.
“This event was not just a performance – it was an opportunity for local schools and the wider community to come together, engage in interactive discussions, and hear directly from those whose lives have been deeply affected and changed forever by substance misuse,” commented the Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Kyle Savage.
“It was very difficult to listen to at times, but these difficult conversations must be had with our young people to encourage community engagement around drug awareness and to ensure that young people know the dangers surrounding sasubstance misuse.”
The play was written by acclaimed playwright Mark Wheeller.
