Talisa Marks, 18, said she became involved in theatre when she started at the Berkeley Institute. The United Dance Production dancer has been involved in the Shakespeare Festival and other drama projects at her alma mater. Her thoughts on violence were: "I think that Bermuda is way too small for violence. Everybody knows each other and we shouldn't be fighting over the silliest things."

Tarriq Tucker, 18, took theatre and society in S1 at the Berkeley Institute and this year, he took a class in technical theatre. He is mainly singing within this production, because this is his passion.

"I actually think it is a smart idea to give the people who are in the play a chance to voice their ideas and to show what we can put out there.

"A lot of us have seen the violence and some of the kids saw the body of 24-year-old Shakeya DeRoza. One or two had seen her before the Police had gotten to her." A man has been charged with her murder.

He added: "As for myself, I write poetry and I am writing a monologue for it. My monologue was about a boy who had lost his sibling to violence and the younger brother was talking about his memories of him and what he thought of him.

"I didn't really finish it, but this is just off the spot now, but I am elaborating on it."

DeAzha Chambers, 15, said: "I think that TROIKA is a wonderful experience and also a wonderful opportunity, because there is not much offered in our community and there's a lot of talented Bermudians and you want to showcase your youth's talent.

"So TROIKA is giving us the opportunity to keep our drama on stage and I think the opportunity will open many doors for other opportunities."

On violence, Miss Chambers said: "When I was younger, I would say, 'Bermuda don't have no violence'. I used to go to football games and feel comfortable, but it is unfortunate because it started to build up and it is getting worse.

"We should really be, all for one and one for all."

Berkeley student Kaiya Richards, 15, was advised to audition by her theatre teacher. "It has been interesting because we get to change and do things our way, rather than going off of (a script written) by people who don't know us as well as we do" she said. Miss Richards said that the violence was not necessary. "We don't have to act the way that we do and it is very upsetting. Because sometimes when one young person does something wrong, all the old people think that we're like that and it isn't good."

When she joined the TROIKA cast, Jahmae Williams, 17, thought that she would be handed a script, but said: "I think putting the pieces together ourselves is much better, because it gives you a better perspective of my generation."

When asked about the violence on the Island she said: "It really needs to stop, because most times it is unnecessary, and before we look we are going to have lost a lot of youth to craziness. "Kellon Hill used to hang out around my neighbourhood and I know a couple of people that were accused of killing him and I grew up with one of them."

Utlising her time with this production has many benefits, as she said: "I think a production like this will help keep children like me off the street so that we won't get involved with gangs and things like that there."

Chyone Harris, 16, heard about TROIKA through Facebook and for him TROIKA is about the players.

"They are here to help us, but it is helping us to further our thoughts and to think more about violence," he said.

"I think that the violence happening here on the Island is a little surprising, because it is a small island and when our parents were young people it wasn't so severe. I think that violence here in Bermuda has gone a little overboard."

Hannah Eggen, 19, said: "Kellon (Hill) was one of my closest friends. I was away at the time, but I was just devastated and it is heartbreaking feeling that people just don't have the decency or not in the right mindset to have a heart for other families, other friends, other peers – people who see those people everyday." Four teenagers were acquitted of charges of murder and a Supreme Court jury failed to reach a verdict on charges against a fifth person.

"Things like TROIKA will help tremendously with what is going on in today's society, just keeping young kids who are coming up in this society out of it and keeping the drama on stage."

Miss Eggen has brought other friends into productions for a positive outlet.

"They aren't even dancers, they aren't actors, it is just to keep them out from the street," she said.

"I've been thinking about my monologue and I know it is going to be about Kellon."

She added: "But just to know that our voices are going to be heard to the whole Bermuda is just .... I am trembling right now, because they are going to be hearing my voice and exactly what I think is going on.

"It is very important, because everyone has a different outlook on things and we're the young people coming up in this society and people who are going to be holding the future and we are the ones who will be working on it and trying to make things better.

"It is such a positive, great thing that they are doing and I'm very, very happy they are doing this."