Current Project: CHATROOM

Laura, played by Hannah Phelvin

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Project Description

CHATROOM is a powerful play, expertly performed by students from Trinity Catholic School. Directed by Alexandra Green, the play is about cyber bullying which is essentially about the threat from peers when using mobile phones and the internet. Cyber bullying is a pernicious problem that is made all the more dangerous by the lack of awareness on the part of many communities of how young people are using the internet.

This project showed true partnership between the Local Authority and Warwickshire schools. As well as maintaining excellence in arts opportunities for children and young people from national and international providers, Warwickshire County Council uses its unique local knowledge and expertise to find and promote the talent on its own doorstep. ‘Chatroom’ provided just such an opportunity. In this ‘low cost / high impact’ project important and timely messages about internet safety were communicated to a four figure audience of pupils and adults in nine Warwickshire secondary schools, across the five Warwickshire areas.

The positive response of parents and students to the message of the play in its original performance at Trinity School had prompted the head of drama to contact Arts in Warwickshire Education and ask how it could be shown to a wider audience. AWE arranged for a private viewing of the production by senior members of Warwickshire’s children’s services, representing safeguarding, ICT development and others including Warwickshire members of the Youth Parliament. The positive response was unanimous and rich opportunities for cross-service working were seized. The children’s services anti-bullying co-ordinator worked closely with the performers to produce materials to accompany the performance and support any subsequent activities in schools.

Arts in Warwickshire Education approached secondary schools in the county who were not only enthusiastic about hosting the production but could also see the opportunities for sharing their work in the future and further strengthening their local networks. Their willingness and capacity to manage the event in their own communities was exemplary.

The production was a resounding success, entertaining pupils and adults alike whilst simultaneously presenting its message with a clarity and conviction hard to replicate by other means. In addition the performing students had an unforgettable experience in ‘work experience’ as actors, the head of drama gained valuable professional knowledge of other schools and the reputation of Trinity Catholic School was further enhanced.

Adults’ Comments:

‘A beautifully staged production which captured the year 9 audience from the start.’ Shiv Ressel, Deputy Headteacher, Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone

‘A strong performance with huge links to students in today’s society.’

Ryan Ward, English Teacher, Ayelsford School, Warwick

‘This was an excellent opportunity for our students to appreciate the power of live performance. The production was superbly acted. It was thoroughly relevant to our students who were rapt throughout!

Sarah Talbot on the performance at King Edward VI School, Stratford Upon Avon

‘It was a very moving performance that has and will continue to provoke much personal reflection.’

Chris Browning, Head of Drama, Harris School, Rugby and Warwickshire Advanced Skills Teacher for Drama

‘WOW! What a wonderful performance – the students and staff at Avon Valley have really enjoyed the show’

Teacher, The Avon Valley School, Rugby

‘Very professional touring company. Also very useful feedback from the student actors and a sense of maturity beyond their years.’

‘ the effect on the audience was compelling and powerful, it brought tears to my eyes.’

Teachers at Alcester Grammar School

‘The play was a powerful educational tool in bringing to life the real potential dangers and issues of the enticing, fascinating virtual worlds that thrive within chatrooms, and was a powerful opportunity to open discussion and for the pupils to discuss the dangers and real issues.’

Michelle Lowe, Assistant Headteacher, Alderman Smith School, Nuneaton

‘Brilliant! My year 10’s have loved it and I thought you engaged them really well’

Kay Sanders, Head of Performing Arts, Ash Green School

Pupils’ comments (selected from the 137 responses received):

‘I really enjoyed watching this performance as I found it very realistic. I think it was good that it was based on a very serious situation but did it in an amusing way.’

‘Thankyou very much for proving that cyber bullying is important to stop.’

‘I thought it was a thrilling experience and would recommend it to other schools.’

‘This performance will have helped if anyone watching is being cyber-bullied, that there will be someone that will help them.’

‘I really enjoyed the performance and thought it put a really clear message across’

‘I really enjoyed watching this and I hope that we can have some more presentations like this.’

‘It has added on to my knowledge of internet safety’

‘there should be more things like this in schools to get a message across’

‘I thought that this production was the best I’ve seen out of all the productions that have been to the school.’

‘the point about cyber bullying was really brought across to us all.’

‘I enjoy watching drama and have watched quite a lot of professional performances. Compared to some of these, this was just as good, if not better.’

‘Thank you! Best performance I have ever seen, wish I could see it again’