Pupils in secondary schools in East Sussex will be getting support to quit smoking this month, with help from the local NHS Stop Smoking Service and performances of a play called “Smoke”.
The play is a forum theatre production by KINN Theatre Company and has been funded by Pfizer UK Foundation and NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald & NHS Hastings and Rother.
“Smoke” consists of three short plays called “Signed”, “Sealed” and “Delivered”.
Each play provides health messages about smoking related diseases, fire risk, especially when under the influence of alcohol and drugs, low birth weight babies and passive smoking.
Forum theatre provides a fun way of getting the information across to young people in a way that makes sense to them.
This style of theatre lets audience members take over the main character’s role and change the outcome of the play.
Brenda Lynes O’Meara from the Stop Smoking Service said:
“Reducing smoking rates amongst young people is a national and local priority.
We have worked with KINN for several years to provide an innovative, creative and challenging way of engaging young people and their families.
Our service has helped many people to stop smoking and the joint partnership approach has given young people permission and clear information to enable them to say ‘no’ to a cigarette.
In addition, we have trained school nurses to provide support and nicotine replacement therapy to students and we also run specialist drop-in clinics across the county for both adults and young people.”
Rosamond Palmer, KINN’s Creative Director, said:
“Smoking amongst the young is seen as a rebellious act which the tobacco industry use to their advantage. It’s important that young people gain an awareness of how they are targeted by the tobacco industry as replacement smokers.”
KINN and the Stop Smoking Teams will be in schools from 19 January – 6 February 2009. The Stop Smoking Service can be contacted on 0800 917 8896 and more information about KINN is available at www.kinn.org.uk
