Powerful drama to cut deaths on roads
A powerful drama aimed at raising awareness of road safety among teenage drivers and passengers will be staged across Herefordshire schools and colleges.
Herefordshire Council’s Road Safety Unit and Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership have teamed up with Cambridgeshire-based Walking Forward Theatre Company to bring “Never Saw the Day”.
The 50-minute production, performed by professional actors, is aimed at 16 – 18 year olds and will be staged at nine different colleges and schools across the County between November 7 – 11.
The production includes set, lights and sound to tell the story of five friends.
It covers relationships, love, music, football and careers before tragedy strikes and a car crash destroys everything.
It is followed by “Terry Springer,” a 20-minute question and answer session involving audience participation.
Ann Mann, Road Safety Officer for Herefordshire Council said: “ This year we have already had many young people, 16 to 19 year olds, injured on our roads.
“Fifty nine casualties involved the car drivers and 41 were passengers.
“Three young people have died. This is three too many.
“We have used theatre in education before and it works very well with this age group, getting the very important road safety messages home in a way that makes the student think.”
Hannah McSherry, Community Safety Co-ordinator for Herefordshire Community Safety & Drugs Partnership, added: “Without doubt drama is a very powerful educational tool.
“This drama looks at the effect a road traffic collision can have on people’s lives, not just the families involved but also the friends of the victim.”
The Walking Forward Theatre Company has performed Never Saw the Day in Northern Ireland, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Dublin and Kent.
The production has also been performed to British Tri-Service personnel in the Armed Forces in Cyprus, Germany, Hong Kong, Bosnia, Kosovo and units within the UK.
