Year 12 students have attended a powerful and thought-provoking drama event about road safety. In a performance workshop that doesn’t pull any punches, the engaging performance focused on the very real effects of accidents on victims, passengers and bystanders.
The performance was given in the main hall with all the action taking place in the midst of the students with U-shaped seating which added to the impact of the story and allowed interaction with the audience.
The sixty minute event was enacted by three young actors, Nat, Rob and Kim from Box Clever Theatre and used drama, music and choreography to tell the story of a young couple who are in love and full of plans for the future which ends in tragedy. Events in the car turn out to be key to the outcome and with many young people on the road, the message of how to manage distractions can save lives.
“Many of our Sixth Form students will be learning to drive, have friends who can drive or have already passed their test,” said Mrs Theay, Head of Post 16, “so a presentation like this is vital to keep students aware of how they can be safer.”
Audience members were encouraged to take part with a few questions and even some star performances by our own students! As well as acting, the performers quoted personal testaments, news reports and statistics to illustrate their message.
Only 1.5% of drivers are aged 17-19 but almost one in eight (nearly 12%) of all road traffic injuries and deaths involve drivers between these ages. Of the 150 students in the room, about 20 are statistically likely to have and accident involving police presence within six months of passing a test. A quarter of all men who die before the age to 25 are due to road traffic accidents.
It turns out that the four main causes of car accidents are: distraction (music, using a phone, chatting etc), speeding, not wearing a seat belt or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
At the end of the performance Nat asked the students to reflect on the actions of the passenger and what could have been done, if anything to change events.
In closing the workshop one of the performers said, “Be the one to make a difference. Be the one to change the ending.”