Sean's Story at Bexhill High

Around 320 Year 11 students experienced Sean's Story, a play about a teenager who has difficulties at home which result in him running away.

Sean finally talks through his problems with three friends who want to help him find a solution.

The play followed a script to set the scene - after that the audience took hold and decided which way the story should go as they discussed the issues, and how best they should be tackled.

The main themes to arise included teenage pregnancy, alcohol use in the home, difficult family situations, sexually transmitted diseases, and lack of communication.

The Theatre Active performance, led by Pete Marchant, was organised by Head of House Pauline Edwards and funded by Rother District Council which worked on the project with the PCT.

Pauline said: "If we can prevent one student becoming homeless or tell them how to receive the help they need, then that is what we are aiming for.

"The students were really engaged and they took on board the information. They enjoyed being part of the story and getting actively involved. They are engaged in what is happening to the characters because they tell the characters what to say - so it is their choice. I think they relate much more to this than if they were reading it or working through text."

Rother's Housing Manager Martin Bolton commented: "What we are trying to do is engage young people through a theatrical device to explore what it is that might end up with them at the age of 16 or 17 sitting in a housing office saying - my parents have chucked me out.

"This is pretty big for us...parental evictions are one of the two highest causes of homelessness in this district.

"It happens over and over and over again.

"The reason for doing this is to try and explore what leads up to people being homeless...This is about is trying to get young people to actually examine what is happening at home, what part they play in it and what they might do to make it better."