Delivered by Collingwood Learning, a facilitator of drama-based learning experiences, ‘The Smashed Project’ is an international theatre-in-education programme that aims to break the culture of underage drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.

Through interactive learning, the project empowers students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions – encouraging them to observe, explore and reflect on themes including the social and emotional causes of drinking, the impact it has on young lives, and the influence of peer pressure.

Andrea Monaghan, Head of Personal Development at Withernsea High School, said: “We know that young people face many pressures during their teenage years, including navigating their way around the use of alcohol. We were therefore delighted to invite The Smashed Project into school to deliver a performance workshop, exploring issues around underage drinking, for the benefit of our year 7 students.

“It was well-performed - delivering a thought-provoking and sometimes humorous message in an age-appropriate and accessible way. The workshop following the performance helped our students to unpick issues like peer pressure and allowed them to direct the performers into trying out different strategies in response to this pressure.”

Year 7 student Isaac Farmer said: “I really enjoyed it. The show taught us about what can happen when people drink and it taught us to make sensible decisions about alcohol.” Fellow student, Patrick Brazier-Bennett added: “It is important that we talk about alcohol now so that we don't make bad decisions when we are older.”

A spokesman for The Smashed Project said “Smashed empowers young people to explore the themes raised through a natural fascination with the characters and their choices. What attitudes drove them to do what they did? How do they feel now? What could they do differently to get a better outcome?

“By interacting with the characters, learners rapidly identify the causes and consequences of underage drinking. Playing director, they reshape the story and develop new attitudes and behaviours that will help them make the right choices in their own lives.

“Students learn to recognise social dynamics at play, personal responsibility, decision making and communication. We believe these are the essential building blocks to guarding against many risks and creating positive futures.”

Designed by young people, the Smashed performance taps into the rhythm of teenage lives through the stories of three young people:

“Mal could be the first in the family to get to uni. Georgia might make the national team if she just goes the extra mile. Freddie hides his crushed dreams and dysfunctional background beneath a veneer of bravado and a haze of alcohol. To Mal and Georgia, the older Freddie represents a taste of danger, excitement, and rebellion. Each seeking to escape from something, they become locked in a negative spiral of peer pressure and a culture of underage drinking.

This illusion of fun soon becomes more elusive. Drinking affects their mental and physical health and their relationships with friends, family and school. Mal’s aspirations appear to be dashed, but is it too late to change? Can Georgia get back on track? Will Freddie get the help he needs? A dramatic finale asks the audience to consider the choices the characters made, and what their own choices might be in their real-life story.”

Parent/Carer Guide

The Smashed Project provides a guide for parents/carers to help open ‘positive and honest conversations about alcohol with young people’. The guide explores the dangers of underage drinking and the importance of confronting the issue, while also looking at the reasons behind why a young person may drink. It also explains the law and helps parents/carers to answer any questions their child may have.

The guide can be viewed/downloaded here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/f985b63f-c5ac-47f7-b78c-1247d0888d2b