Turriff pupils shown danger of alcohol
A hard-hitting play yesterday showed Turriff Academy pupils the dangers of drinking alcohol.
The school's youngsters watched Double Vision, by Live Wire Productions, which is set in a police cell and features two women whose lives have been affected by alcohol.
Vivienne, 35, the daughter of two psychiatrists and who was mothered by an alcoholic and 25-year-old Rosemary, whose unemployed parents are also alcoholics, tell each other their life stories in the soap-like drama.
It was written by Press and Journal columnist Nicola Barry and support worker Susanne Kearney.
The play is part of the nationwide Drinkwise campaign.
Following the performance, interactive workshops between the audience and the show's characters took place - allowing pupils to talk to both of the women.
Turriff Academy's Wilfred Weir, integration manager for the new community school, said: "It is very much like the soaps they watch and that makes it very easy for the pupils to relate to.
"It has received a lot of good publicity in the past and really does a lot for both children and adults."
The show was open to an adult audience at the school last night.
Alcohol development officer for NHS Grampian, Jennie Biggs, said: "Statistics from the Grampian Youth Lifestyle Survey 1998 show that young people are drinking more and more often. This production links in with strategic objectives of the Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drugs Action Team and also the Moray Drugs and Alcohol Action Team, which aim to reduce the problems associated with alcohol and drug misuse."
The play toured community venues last year, and proved a major success - prompting the second to run this month.
Mintlaw Academy pupils will get the chance to see the play when the group arrive at their school today.
Press and Journal, County Edition - 21 st February 2002