The Smashed Theatre Project visits West Walton’s Marshland High School to discuss perils of teenage drinking

A theatre group has paid a visit to a secondary school to highlight the dangers and effects of alcohol.

The Smashed Theatre Project went to Marshland High School in West Walton recently to speak to the children about the perils of teenage drinking.

The actors from the Smashed Theatre Project gave the pupils alternative scenarios of how to handle these situations - which they then acted out.

Head of PSCHE (personal, social, health and economic education) Lydia Beatty said: “It is always important for students to understand the risks of underage drinking, and to hear about it in such an interactive way from people more their age helped them understand it a lot more.”

She added that the students from Year 8 thought it had been a good way to get the message across about problems around drinking.

“It was funny, but still showed the importance and relevance of understanding the dangers,” one student said.

The interactive theatre experience is part of the Smashed Project which also offers online resources for teachers to deliver learning objectives in the classroom.

Topics include the social and emotional causes of drinking, the impact on young lives, and where and how to help yourself.

A statement from the project said: “Smashed empowers young people to explore the themes raised through a natural fascination with the characters and their choices.

“What attitudes drove them to do what they did? How do they feel now? What could they do differently to get a better outcome?

“Students learn to recognise social dynamics at play, personal responsibility, decision making and communication.”

Reporting by Cara Fiore