Education and Training

Drugs Education Programme 23/24

We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Public Health Dorset to support our programme extend across the county.

Already a popular offer across schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), our education offer uses the same methodology as the original Bournemouth Theatre in Education (TiE) programme first launched in 1998. A runaway success, it was seen by more than 60,000 young people throughout the south of England.
The ambition has always been to support schools with their response to tackling drug and alcohol awareness, which now sits within the PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) curriculum.

As we extend across BCP and across Dorset, the programme focus is the short but powerful one-act play “The Nest,” written by acclaimed playwright and director Sharon Muiruri-Coyne, founder of Vita Nova, who led the original TiE programme. Our actors are all in recovery.

The play was inspired by the participants as they built on their recovery. It speaks to other people in recovery, their families and friends and the wider community.

Programme overview

Whether we perform in a treatment centre or in an educational setting the offer includes:

A short play drawing on the lived experience of those facing addiction (25 minutes)
“My journey into addiction”— an individual account
Small group discussion(s)
Q&A session that initiates a new and positive dialogue about recovery, empathy and individual wellbeing

Programmes can be

Delivered in one-hour or two-hour formats. Longer format allows time for Forum Theatre on commonly-experienced life situations and choices, and how to cope.
Programmes can open the door to any support that may be needed, with a shared experience that can be referred back to in PSHE lessons for weeks and months to come.

Logistics

We are flexible so can tailor the session to meet your needs and timings. The whole programme lasts between an hour and a half to two hours. The maximum number of students per session is 50 as we want to offer them the real opportunity to engage directly with our cast and aks questions. We can offer two to three sessions within a typical school day.

What students say…

‘Useful to hear from people who have actually experienced addiction’

‘It was an eye-opening performance that illustrated the awful challenges of facing addiction’

‘Powerful and eye-opening’

‘It shocked me and made me think’

‘Be yourself, don’t do drugs just to fit in’

‘It moved me greatly and inspired me’

What Teachers say…

‘We felt very privileged to be so brave and courageous to share your stories. We know that your production has a much longer-term effect than me simply telling them’ – Staff member at Twynham School, Dorset

How to Book

If you are interested in booking us or would like further information, please email us at office@vitanova.co.uk or call us at 01202 309999.

Book Now!

Address

11 Roumelia Lane
Boscombe
Bournemouth
BH5 1EU

Contact

Phone + 01202 309999
Email + info@vitanova.co.uk