Pupils Given Lesson In Alcohol Dangers

ISLAND high school pupils will be given a valuable lesson in the dangers of drugs and alcohol in two drama performances next month.
Last Orders by the educational theatre group Solomon will be performed for all Year Nine pupils at Carisbrooke High School on Wednesday 5 December and at Sandown High School the following day (6).

This is a joint venture funded by IW Council Trading Standards, Drugs Awareness and IW Police with a contribution from each participating school.

The production aims to deliver its powerful message in a performance that is both entertaining and educational. The Last Orders presentation consists of a 60-minute piece of theatre in which the audience sees a cast of three re-enacting an evening of binge drinking.

Based on real life events recorded by the author Mark Hyde in Wiltshire during the late 1990′s, the three young characters (15-17 yrs old) suffer a series of consequences as a result of their drinking.

Following the performance the audience then have the opportunity to interview the three characters in a “Jerry Springer” TV studio style format.

This lasts an hour during which the actors discover what lessons have been learnt by the audience and the issues are explored in more detail.

Among issues the production seeks to raise are the law regarding alcohol sales, how drinking can lead to anti-social behaviour and the link between drinking and health problems and unplanned pregnancies.

Diana Tuson, IW Council Cabinet member for Safer Communities’ said: “These performances have proved a highly successful way of getting important messages across to young people on the mainland. I am sure the Island students will find the Last Orders production both informative and engaging.”