The Here Today production, funded by Country Arts Support Program, Regional Arts NSW has been a huge success in local schools.
Devised by Byron Youth Theatre in consultation with local psychologist Peter Chown, Headspace, Acon, Beyond Blue, Black Dog institute and Mindframe, the Here Today production was presented as a Forum Theatre experience.
Forum theatre is part of Theatre of the Oppressed developed by the late Augusto Boal. Scenes were devised showing a young female experiencing bullying from peers and dealing with the stresses of HSC and pressures from her family. The ending suggesting that without assistance this young person may take their own life.
Once the performance has been shown the audience are invited to select scenes where they think the protagonist can do or say something different which will bring about a more positive outcome.
Here are some of the responses from students.
" It was hard to watch the bullying, it was real and I know many people who have been bullied. It was great that we got to explore solutions to this issue. It was also fun being part of it" Student Mullumbimby High School
" I learnt that you can always get help, even when things feel really hard. The play was great. I really enjoyed it" Student Byron High School
"Great to see the kids so engaged and valuing this, it also brought new understanding between staff and students" Welfare teacher Mullumbimby High School
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Each year the Byron Youth Theatre brings a performance to our school that highlights and reflects a relevant youth issue that the young actors have researched and work-shopped together, most recently bullying. They are always lively and insightful performances that also challenge the audience's thoughts and feelings and behaviors, thank you BYT" Welfare teacher Cape Byron Steiner School.
Many thanks to all who assisted in this production especially Maysoun Bouga, a Theatre of the Oppressed practitioner who volunteered her time to assist in the BYT process and Claire, Summa, Nerida and Phil from Headspace Lismore and Tweed.
A promotional video will be available in early August. BYT hope that they can share this work with the wider community around September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day.
The annual Positive Adolescent Sexual Health, PASH conference (June 15th & 16th) was a stunning success again this year. Over 700 young people attended from schools throughout the region. Held at Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus, young people and teachers were engaged in a range of workshops and discussions as well as seeing BYT's production " So what about sex?".
This year BYT performed in the main theatre to an appreciative audience of 700+ who clapped after every single scene!!
Feedback from the performances was again overwhelming with many strongly recommending this be the way sexual health and education is taught in schools. The community forum and discussion evening held at the Byron Theatre on June 15th was also a great success with around 130 community members attending to see BYT's performance and hear expert professional guest speakers talk about sexual health in the online age. It was live streamed through facebook page PASH Consortium. Here's the clip, BYT is on after the introduction around the 11minute mark!
If you are interested in joining BYT or can offer supportive services please contact Lisa on [email protected]
