Drama group hope to send a better message
A local theatre group that uses interactive theatre to promote community issues kicked off a campaign for a better Britain today.
As part of oil giant Shell's Better Britain Project, Live Wire Productions showcased two of their 23 creations at Aberdeen Arts Centre.
Based in Newtonhill, the mobile theatre company uses drama to put different messages across to different sections of the community, including children and young adults.
The shows at the arts centre aimed to increase awareness of the environment, health and social issues.
They are the first of a nationwide series of events that are part of the 2002 Project, backed by the Better Britain campaign.
Vanessa Chew, founder of Live Wire, a registered charity, said she was pleased the group had been asked to take part in the project.
She said: "Without the support of organisations such as Shell we wouldn't have the funding to commission shows and share them with the community."
"Various organisations will come to us and ask us to present a message through drama on subjects such as drugs or alcohol and we have an accomplished list of productions, depending on what people want us to do."
Live Wire has worked with health boards, education groups and local councils to illustrate different messages.
Their professional teams of actors tailor events for specific audiences to enable them to relate to the production.
Project 2002 aims to allow local organisations and residents the opportunity to see how sustainable community projects have blossomed in the 10 years since the creation of Agenda 21 at the Rio earth summit. Agenda 21 aimed to increase sustainable development by nations throughout the world.
The Better Britain Campaign has picked a representative selection of local community projects from over 26,000 in Britain.
A total of 82 community programmes will take part in the festival which runs from April to June.
The intention is to launch thousands more programmes, as information is shared and new ideas taken on board.
Each event will include a tour of the project, discussions on its implementation and a look at how future projects can be launched.
To find out more about the projects and apply for invitations visit the website at www.sbbc.co.uk/the2002project .
Press and Journal - 3 rd April 2002