Education and Outreach Offer
The Nest
Vita Nova’s The Nest offers support to those in recovery. The play is coupled with the powerful testimonies of the cast, all of whom are in recovery, offering inspiration for those experiencing addiction, those in treatment and those in rehabilitation. Our visits also offer a gateway for those in treatment to think about joining Vita Nova when they have completed their programme. Seeing others in recovery, who have found a way of rebuilding and re-engaging with life is very affirming.
The programme
- Introduction
- The Play (35 minutes)
- Testimonies and Q&A
About The Nest
Written by Sharon Coyne, the play was inspired by one of the participants in a drama workshop she was running in a treatment centre. Andy spoke of how at the end of his active addiction, his life had been reduced to just one chair, the one last grain of control which he called ‘his nest’. This led to a conversation with other participants, who all identified with his situation, be it a corner of a room, an old sofa, or a bed.
The play recounts a narrative that Sharon has heard in many guises for over twenty years, and how the negative voices in our heads can often drown out the positive ones. It attempts to portray the disease of addiction whilst offering hope. When ‘Sam’ the central character finally asks for help, they are at the beginning of their road to recovery.
The play has been performed across schools, treatment centres and prisons: for students, it carries a message of caution about the risks of addiction. For those in treatment, it offers hope and a possible next step in their recovery. And for those in remand or on probation, it’s encouragement and a shared understanding that they are not alone.
The Wasps’ Nest
The Wasps’ Nest is a compelling new production that tackles the concerning themes of county lines drug running, online exploitation, and knife crime. The story follows ‘Jo’, a local student, who meets ‘Wasp’ whilst online gaming. What follows sees Jo taking a very dangerous path with devastating consequences for everyone involved.
Funded by Public Health Dorset and Talbot Village Trust, and endorsed by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset (David Sidwick), and BCP Young Person Serious Violence Group, in 2024, it was performed to over 3000 students, as well as treatment centres across the area and most recently, for inmates at Portland Prison. Described by a parent from Bournemouth School as ‘relevant to everyone at this time’, the play supports the PSHE curriculum in schools, addressing themes of peer pressure, online dangers, and the risk of criminal exploitation.
The play was written through research and dialogue with young people and those who have experienced first-hand the impact of county lines, drug and knife crime. Supporting the work of the Combatting Drugs Partnership, the play is performed by people in recovery who bring their lived experience to the Q&A that follows each performance, offering a deep insight into how easy you can go off track.
If you’d like to book The Nest or The Wasps’ Nest, email reception@vitanova.co.uk for availability and a quote.
