Theatre Royal Haymarket and Masterclass Trust have partnered with charity Kidscape for a new project called Cyberscene which will combat cyber bullying. Judi Dench, winner of the most Olivier Awards for acting, has also spoken out in support of the project.
Ahead of Anti-Bullying Week (14 – 18 November) Masterclass and Kidscape will work with students from South Thames College, Leyton Sixth Form College, Hackney Community College and Barnet and Southgate College to create a new play which explores the impact of technology, social media and cyber bullying.
The students will work alongside director Guy Unsworth and writer Emily Jenkins, with the play scripted during a series of theatre-based workshops. The final production be staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in March 2017.
Dame Judi said: “As a Patron of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust, I am delighted to lend my support to a worthwhile project which will harness the power of theatre to bring together a community of young students to address the issues associated with cyber bullying.”
Peter Bradley, Director Of Services at Kidscape said; “We are proud to be partnering with Masterclass. We know the internet can be exciting, informative and fun – yet it’s also a world where young people are bullied, exploited and led to harm. There’s a vital need for this project – what you will see on stage is what’s happening in our schools and colleges. Cyberscene will provide a new insight into how young people live their digital lives.”
For more information on the Cyberscene project, visit the Masterclass website.