PEER pressure, bullying, drugs and alcohol were the hot topics of an interactive performance at Saffron Walden County High School. Locally-based professional theatre company, HyperFusion, performed It Won t Happen to Me to sixth form pupils. The pl

PEER pressure, bullying, drugs and alcohol were the hot topics of an interactive performance at Saffron Walden County High School.

Locally-based professional theatre company, HyperFusion, performed It Won't Happen to Me to sixth form pupils.

The play - which was developed in collaboration with an AIDS charity and has recently been awarded a five-year grant to increase its tour by 400 per cent - focuses on situations where young people may place themselves at risk.

Its aim is to help young people to manage the risk and make safe, informed choices about health, lifestyle and relationships.

To do this, HyperFusion use an interactive style of theatre - called forum theatre - which allows the audience to step in and give advice to the characters so they can practice and negotiate the consequences in a safe atmosphere.

Artistic Director, Sarah Ellis is delighted to bring this strand of the company's work into her home town.

She said: "We have been touring all around Herts and Essex so it is fantastic to be able to work locally and for Saffron Walden to access their very own professional theatre company. This type of interactive theatre empowers our young people to explore the issues in a real life context.

"They gave fantastic advice and I was very proud to be part of a town that has such amazing young people negotiating their way through life so articulately and wonderfully."

HyperFusion also runs a theatre training company for young people. For more information call 07939645359.

Pictured HyperFusion actors (from left) Claire MacKenzie, Andrew Dennis, Michael Ball and Jane Gull with half the amount of drugs that someone with HIV has to take in one day, every day for the rest of their lives