A TOURING theatre production raising awareness about the dangers of underage drinking is set to visit two Northwich schools.
'Smashed' combines drama with interactive workshops to give high school students a 'hard-hitting' lesson on the facts, causes and consequences of drinking alcohol.
Developed and presented by Collingwood Learning, and supported by Diageo, the production puts on 25-minute performances followed by a 35-minute workshop to give students the chance to reflect on the themes and choices made by the characters.
The touring production, which is free for schools to receive, will be visiting the Rudheath Senior Academy on Wednesday, February 14, then The Grange School in Hartford the following day.
Heather Eaton, deputy head pastoral at The Grange School, said: "As part of our proactive approach to pastoral care, we are delighted to welcome 'Smashed' productions to The Grange Theatre this week.
"We are pleased that they will be working with our year seven students as part of our comprehensive PSHE programme to help them make well-informed, good decisions about this important topic in the future."
The two schools in Northwich are among 11 across Cheshire being visited by 'Smashed'.
Chris Simes, chairman of Collingwood Learning, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing this global programme back to schools in Cheshire this year.
"As statistics show, underage drinking presents a real threat to the health and well-being of young people.
"Our goal is to enhance the current alcohol education curriculum in schools with our memorable performance and workshop experience that helps young people explore the risks of underage drinking and build their confidence to say ‘no’ in the face of teenage peer pressure.”
Beverage company Diageo is supporting 'Smashed', which is now in its 15th year, as part of its commitment to promoting moderation and tackling alcohol harm across the UK.
Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: "This year we are embarking on our biggest 'Smashed' tour to date and look forward to Collingwood Learning reaching even more communities across Cheshire.
"Smashed has an impressive and proven track record of delivering an informative and engaging performance that equips young people with the knowledge to make smart decisions and understand the dangers of underage drinking.
"Underage drinking causes many risks to young people and ‘Smashed’ plays a crucial role in our ambition to tackle harmful drinking and deliver against our commitment to educate 10 million young people, parents and teachers on the dangers of underage drinking by 2030."
In addition to the live interactive workshop, ‘Smashed’ provides support for schools in delivering vital personal, social, and health education (PSHE).
Schools not reached by the live tour also have the opportunity to take part in 'Smashed Online'. To find out more, please visit: online.smashedproject.org/gb/.
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