03 June 2008
Why it was needed
As in a lot of our towns and cities experimentaion with drugs, particularly alcohol, is an acute issue amongst young adults. Re-wired is designed to address that issue and bring about changes in peoples attitudes.
What's being done
Re-wired is a project run by Second year Drama Students who are both actors and workshop leaders. It is a drugs and alcohol awareness project aimed at year ten students. It was designed to compliment the national curriculum for P.H.S.E and is a hard-hitting, gritty performance with supportive drama workshop.
The aim of the project is to educate and inform young adults of the dangers that they can encounter when abusing drugs or alcohol. The Re-Wired performance is delivered in the style of cult teen viewing Skins and portrays hard-hitting imagery in a modern inventive manner.
How it started
The inspiration behind the project came from Dr Jones a previous performance about the perils of binge drinking developed by myself, for the Emergency Showcase at the Y theatre in Leicester. Originally it was a performance installation held during the interval in the theatre bar. Feedback from a number of teachers in the audience included the suggestion to develop the performance, and to tour it around secondary schools and so Re-wired was born.
After finding a like-minded student team to take the project forward I successfully secured funding from Junction49 which as well as funding costume and workshop equipment enabled the team to undergo drug and alcohol training.
More
The cast of Re-wired as well as performing, developed and delivered the drug and alcohol awareness workshops for the schools and as a result have been inspired to go on to do other things. Some have decided to take up Negotiated Studies for their final year at university, whilst others are writing their own performance for a local theatre company or are looking at developing further workshops for secondary schools.