An evaluation of a drug education play for schools in south Wales Available to Purchase

Schools are often seen as a key setting for health education and health promotion. Theatre in education offers a valuable way of tackling difficult subjects within schools, particularly for those children open to risk and lifestyle choices. This paper reports on a play about drugs, written and acted by a local theatre in education group in south Wales. The play was written for 10‐12 year olds and has been performed, with revisions, over the last ten years in local schools. This paper reports on a simple evaluation of the effects of the play on the understanding of, and feelings about, drugs in the target group exposed to the play. A total of 133 children responded to the survey and were generally positive about the play, identified with the main characters and could remember some of the illicit drugs mentioned in the drama. Six teachers were also questioned and they were positive about the play’s contribution to the curriculum and its approach to drug education.