Theatre students deliver important message in local primary schools

Five drama students in their second year of a Theatre and Performance degree at NEWI in Wrexham have devised and written ‘Home Alone’, a play aimed at helping Key Stage 2 children to understand issues surrounding domestic abuse, and showing them where they can turn  for help whenever it may be needed.

The issues have not been presented to children of this age group in a theatrical setting before, and the entire cast and crew agree that the project has been both challenging and rewarding.

The production follows the fortunes of five characters aged 7 to 10, all of whom are experiencing domestic abuse in one form or another. Each character, apart from one, finds an answer to their problem, whether it is talking to a teacher at school, a family member, or Childline. Only Sophie, who appears at the end of the play, does not know where to turn. The resolution of the play is deliberately left open ended, encouraging children in the audience who may have similar problems to act on the advice provided. At the end of the performance a screen provides contact details of organisations mentioned throughout the play.

Play director and senior lecturer Elen Mai Nefydd said: “We are all enjoying the project because of the service it provides to the community and the combination of entertainment and information it brings to young children, that could help them and their families resolve problems at home.”

The project has also given the students a chance to build up practical as well as acting skills as they tackled the challenge of creating a production that would be relevant to very young children. Charlotte Andrews, who plays Emily in the production says, "It was difficult at first to get into the right frame of mind to act out my role as an 8 year old girl, but I soon got into it. The experience gave me a great insight into the problems of domestic abuse and we were all very grateful for the help provided by Women’s Aid and Flintshire County Council."

The production will be staged in various primary schools in Flintshire from the 11th - 13th June.