Returning to schools across the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area were Southern Regional College’s (SRC) Level 3 Performing Arts and Music Production students, with the self-written performance ‘Click’.

The College students toured primary schools in the ABC Council area performing for ten and eleven year olds. Special performances were also held at SRC’s Banbridge campus to facilitate morning and afternoon performances and increase the number of primary schools in attendance.  ‘Click’ was developed in collaboration with the Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), who attended a rehearsal of the performance and provided input into performance content.

‘Click’ is a theatre in education performance written entirely by SRC’s second year Level 3 Performing & Production Arts Extended Diploma students.  The performance highlights the dangers lurking online for children and young people as well as measures to protect oneself from unwanted attention. Scenarios include getting scammed online, cyber bullying and upskirting.

This year’s performance is a continuance of a long-term partnership between the College and PCSP to educate young people within the council area on dangers which exist online.

Speaking on this year’s play, Alderman Mark Baxter, Chairperson of PCSP commented:

“The Performing Arts Students have written and delivered a very powerful play. It is so important that these topics are covered at an early age to prevent young people talking to the wrong people online, know the consequences of taking and sharing inappropriate photos, and know how to set their social media settings including Snapchat maps. The messages delivered within the play will hopefully stay with the students and enable them to make safer choices.”

Performing Arts student Jake Hanvey who devised the script alongside fellow students, described the play as ‘interesting, informative and impactful’. Keirsha Treanor took on a dual part role within the play, acting as a younger girl whose social media accounts are blocked by her dad after becoming increasingly concerned by online content, and an older lady who catfishes a young person.  Following the powerful performances delivered, Keirsha is committed to educating younger audiences about online safety.

At the beginning of rehearsals, fellow student Shea Hughes undertook a character interview with a young cousin to gain an in-depth understanding of how children view the internet and online safety. Shea is keen to share his findings through this role and said:

“When online, keep to your friendship circle; only be friends with people you know and never send explicit photos online.”

Local primary schools attending performances of ‘Click’ included P6 & P7 students from Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School, Armagh; St Anthony’s Primary School, Craigavon; The Armstrong Primary School, Armagh; St Marys Primary School, Banbridge and Abercorn Primary School, Banbridge.

Photo Caption: Attending performances of Click were PCSP Project Manager Patricia Gibson and local PSNI officers.  Pictured alongside are Performing Arts students, Keirsha Treanor, Shea Hughes and Jake Hanvey together with their lecturer Teresa McBride

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