A POWERFUL play about the dangers of alcohol is to be performed for teenagers attending schools across South Lakeland.

The pilot project, which is the latest initiative from the South Cumbria Community Safety Partnership (CSP), will use drama and humour to raise awareness among 13 and 14 year-olds of the effects of drinking alcohol and substance misuse.

The play, called One 2 Many, will be performed in nine schools throughout April and May by Loudmouth, an organisation which provides education and training through theatre.

Peter Blackburn, head teacher at John Ruskin School, Coniston, said: “These performances, outside the traditional classroom environment, are a great opportunity to put a message about safety and self-regulation across to our students. Young people face many pressures these days and being able to put such an important message across in an engaging manner is invaluable.”

Performances will also be held at Kirkbie Kendal School, Cartmel Priory School, Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale, The Lakes School in Windermere, Settlebeck High School in Sedbergh and The Queen Katherine School in Kendal.

Professional support staff will be on hand to offer advice after each of the school performances.

The theatre project is backed by the CSP – a mixture of organisations and voluntary groups including South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council and the county’s police and fire services – which is helping to tackle crime and disorder and promote local community safety.

Cllr Chris Hogg, South Lakeland District Council’s representative on the CSP, said: “Live theatre is a very powerful way of reaching, engaging and influencing young people. If these performances have the impact which we expect them to have, we will be keen to build on this initial project in the future.

“The partnership is helping to reach out to sections of our society that are typically hard to reach. By being innovative and proactive, we are working hard to highlight important, complex issues and deliver a fresh approach to problem solving.”

Loudmouth, which specialises in safeguarding work, has been running since 1994.