Time to face “The Truth”

06 03 2010

Still going strong, Gibber’s “The Truth” tour continues to educate the younger generation about the real truth behind the tobacco industry in a drama based learning experience.

By James Gray work experience student –Whitley Bay High School
While attending my one week work experience here at Gibber, I went along with one of Gibber’s teams to see how they work on a performance and follow on workshop. I was asked to attend so I could help set up, to watch the performance and to then become involved with the workshop. “The Truth” was targeted at Year 10 as Healthy Schools in Newcastle upon Tyne wanted to start re-teaching tobacco education for this age.

The Gibber team showed great enthusiasm towards helping the younger generation by giving them fact filled information on how smoking can be harmful and a waste of money. Walker Technology Collage was the latest location, and it was quite an experience for the year 10’s watching. The day was cram packed with a great performance full of information and learning based games and a new fun way of learning.

The performance was about a tobacco company trying to promote their products to the young characters Andy, Tabba and Kylie who are all students. Andy is a footballer on the school team, Kylie is the smart science type and Tabba is the school girl rebel. Tabba is the only smoker until Andy gives into peer pressure and starts to smoke. Andy is kicked off the school football team and becomes unfit at the same time as Tabba finally quits the habit and is doing well in sport with her asthma almost gone.

The performance was very well acted and rehearsed as the information was clear and straight forward. The team brought audience participation onto the stage and interacted with the seated audience.
With the 1st follow on workshop the year 10’s were a little shy and uncomfortable with speaking in front of their friends yet still participated with the activities with confidence. The 2nd group however got involved with everything the team could throw at them and gave detailed answers to all questions.

Overall the Gibber team did an outstanding performance and workshop receiving great feedback from students and teachers. I believe everybody enjoyed themselves and would definitely want to come along to another performance and workshop with the Gibber team.
 

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