Primary school pupils in Hastings and St Leonards will be learning about the health benefits of a smokefree family environment during June, with help from the local NHS Stop Smoking Service and performances of a play called "Puff in a Huff".
The 30 minute play, which is aimed at children aged 4 - 8 years, will be performed in schools between 7th and 18th June, and explores health issues related to tobacco smoking using colourful characters and puppets.
The play is presented by KINN Theatre Company and has been funded by Hastings Borough Council in collaboration with the local NHS. School Nurses will be attending the performances to offer support and advice to pupils who want their parents to quit smoking.
The show is directed by Jonathan Broughton, an award-winning puppeteer who worked on the most recent Diet Coke adverts and who has directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Sue Venables, Smoking Cessation Specialist Advisor, said: “Reducing smoking rates in Hastings & St Leonards is a local health priority and supporting parents in quitting smoking can be beneficial to children by reducing their exposure to second-hand smoke, which is known to cause health problems such as asthma and ear infections.
"You are also four times more likely to stop smoking with the help and support of the local NHS Stop Smoking Service."
Rosamond Palmer, KINN’s Creative Director, said “Children get concerned about their parents’ smoking and want them to quit. Quitting isn’t easy. Theatre in Education can help children understand conflicting situations by exploring possibilities in a way that makes sense to them."
The Stop Smoking Service can be contacted on 0800 917 8896. More information about the KINN Theatre Company can be found at www.Kinn.org.uk
