Play generates healthy interest

Breathe Deep by Oldham Theatre Workshop ar Sth Chadderton School

SAY no to cigarettes . . . that’s the message from a hard-hitting drama that will tour Oldham’s schools this month.

“Breathe Deep” will be performed to Year 7 pupils at 17 schools by actors from Oldham Theatre Workshop.

The play focuses on a girl who is lonely without her best friend and tries to fit in with a group of smokers.

Oldham Community Health Services’ stop smoking service has commissioned the play which got its first showing at South Chadderton School last Friday.

When the 40-minute production is over the audience will get the chance to discuss the issues with the actors and stop-smoking advisers.

Paul O’Connor, young persons’ stop-smoking adviser, said: “We wanted to work with 11-year-olds because that’s when young people move up to secondary school and are more likely to be influenced by lighting up.

“We hope to show dramas to the same children year on year until they are in Year 11 to see if the plays, or the stop-smoking service’s work have had an impact.”

Vanessa Evans, Year 7 learning manager at South Chadderton, added: “We have been delighted to have this play performed for our pupils.

“It is an effective way of encouraging young people to consider all the issues involved with health. It is important that we help our pupils to think about this kind of thing at an early age.

“This is part of a number of events that are built into our personal development programme throughout the school year to encourage a healthy lifestyle.”