Zest's drama based theatre and media productions create exciting, interactive learning enviroments in school, colleges, pupil referral units and youth groups.
It is our belief that theatre and the media are innovative and creative tools in communicating difficult issues to young people. Our entertaining and culturally relevant productions act as a catalyst for discussion that compliments the PSHE and citizenship curriculum.
Craig is sixteen and thinks he has it all. But things change when he decides to leave home before he's ready. With nowhere to go he quickly realises real life isn't as easy as he first thought. We follow him over the next two years as desperation leads to drugs, relationship breakdown and eventually prison.
Until It's Gone is a hard-hitting production for Key Stage 4 based on the true-life stories of homeless young people from across Lincolnshire. Now in it's fourth year the show has already been seen by over 16,000 students. This year is set to be our biggest tour to date with 75 performances planned at venues all across the county.
This exciting play and accompanying workshop gives young people the opportunity to explore a range of difficult and complicated issues in an innovative and accessible way.
For more information or to book a performance contact the team!
Topics Covered:
The Until It's Gone session is split into two sections:
PERFORMANCE (30mins) and INTERACTIVE ORKSHOP (30mins).
The PERFORMANCE introduces / covers the following topics:
Relationship breakdown in families
Relationship breakdown between friends
Teenage Pregnancy
Alcohol and Substance Misuse
Rough sleeping
Domestic violence (this is described)
Offending
Migrant workers
The interactive WORKSHOP covers the following topics:
Conflict Resolution
Sex and Relationships
Peer Pressure – in relation to alcohol / substance misuse and offending
Action and Consequence – The reasons why people can become homeless
Realisation that homelessness is an issue that could affect any of us
Signposting to services that can give help, info and advice
Teacher's Downloads:
Use these downloads to help you prepare for our visit to your school or centre!
Poster download
Topics Covered download
Are you a teenager? Have you ever been in love? Did it all go horribly wrong because of one stupid mistake? If you can answer yes to any of these questions then this touring production is for you!
"It was wicked! At first I thought it was going to be crap coz these sort of things normally are, but it was amazing!"
Trent, Stamford Queen Eleanor School
"Everyone just couldn't stop laughing! But beyond that it made us think about things in the future. I never knew all the dangerous things you could get into. Loved it and hope you come back again."
Chantelle, Lincoln Priory City Academy
'Two To Tango' is a hilarious, interactive, 60-minute production suitable for students in Year 9 and 10. The play follows the story of four friends as they appear on Britain's favourite daytime chat show, Tasha.
Each of the characters have very different views on sex. Jo and Ben are in love, Steve can't wait to add another notch to his bedpost and Amy just wants to be liked. Through chat show host 'Tasha' we explore their actions and the consequences they bring; discovering along the way that what people say and how they really feel are often two different things.
This very honest interactive comedy gives young people the opportunity to talk about sex and relationships in an exciting and memorable way.
The 35-minute play is left open ended with Jo revealing she has a secret to tell. This cliffhanger moves seamlessly into the workshop in the style of a chat show. This part of the session gives the audience the chance to give their viewpoint and ask the characters questions.
Topics Covered
Peer pressure to be sexually experienced
Stereotyping of Boys and Girls
Feeling like you have to continue to have sex once you have done it once
Where/who to go to for advice
Who's responsibility it is for safer sex
Embarrassment about discussing sexual matters
Self image – why sometimes people have sex to build self-esteem
Consequences of unprotected sex
Introduction to the 'Delay Method'.
Issues arising from mobile camera phones, blue-tooth and social networking
One Friday Night is an interactive DVD developed by Zest Creative Arts for
Alcohol Harm Reduction Lincolnshire.
It was produced in consultation with the young people from Zest's Neon Youth Theatre and follows a group of youngsters on a typical night out. It incorporates situations and opportunities for 14 -16 year olds to consider the consequences of alcohol misuse.
After watching a 21-minute film an on screen presenter leads the young people through a series of interactive activities covering a range of topics including: The Law, Health, Relationships, Anti Social Behaviour and Staying Safe.
Lincolnshire schools, youth centres and community groups can get their hands on a FREE set of One Friday Night resource packs! Contact the Zest team to order your copies now!
Choked Up is an interactive DVD produced by Zest Creative Arts for Lincolnshire YMCA and the Lincoln City Tobacco Control Board.
At the centre of the DVD is a 23-minute film that follows Josh, his family and his friends as they deal with the consequences of smoking and the impact it has on their lives. The resource was produced in consultation with the young people from Zest's Neon Youth Theatre who also appear in the film.
After watching the film an on screen presenter leads the audience through 3 hours worth of discussion points and activities related to the characters from the film.
The DVD can be used in a group work setting in the classroom or youth centre with young people in Key Stage 3.
Head to www.chokedup.co.uk to watch the film, take a glimpse behind the scenes and order your copy of the DVD!
Daniel is just like any other 16 year old; he likes football, video games, hanging out with his mates and lives at home with his Mum and Step Dad. But unlike most other 16 year olds Daniel is appearing in court today.
Developed for the Nottinghamshire Youth Offending Service, this interactive DVD gives young people the opportunity to take a closer look at the Youth Justice System by re creating Daniel's trial in their own classroom.
An on screen presenter guides you through the details of Daniel's case before inviting you to step into the Magistrates shoes, decide Daniel's sentence and deliver the final verdict.
The DVD can be used in a group work setting in the classroom or youth centre and is suitable for students in Key Stage 3.
"My name is Amy ...and this is my story. Amy isn't my real name, they've changed it and got an actress to play me so none of you can find out who I really am. But that doesn't make what happened any less true. The story might sound like something out of a soap but it happened and it happened to me, in secret, starting when I was 11."
This powerful production was written especially for Lincolnshire's 2010 Young People's Drug and Alcohol Conference. Innovative storytelling guides us through seven years of Amy's life as difficulties with her new Step Dad leads to isolation and drug addiction.
Based on a true-life case study this moving play and accompanying workshop shows youth workers, teachers and health professionals what can happen when a young person falls through the net.
Nicole is 17 and has had enough of living with Mum and Dad, Simon is 24 and has just returned from working abroad and Lisa is a mother of four who can't afford to pay her rent.
All are in need of housing but aren't eligible to access the support they think they deserve. How will the local authority respond and will they make their decisions clear?
Commissioned by the Lincolnshire County Homelessness Strategy Group, this interactive workshop utilises three short scenes to consult with service users on the way their local authority's housing department communicates.
Findings from these sessions were evaluated and now influence housing services across Lincolnshire.
