Sex'n'Chips
sex and relationships education through puppetry
A live performance and workshop that combines
puppetry and other visual theatre forms to look at young people's
attitudes towards sexual relationships.
The project is devised by young people for young
people aged 13 to 14 (year 9 and 10 pupils) of both sexes, to be
staged in schools and youth centres.
The performance has been devised with young people
in Blackpool, to ensure that it reflects the concerns and attitudes
of young people now.
This production makes use of our TEENAGE PUPPETS.
Click here for further information 
Teenage puppets originally designed by Georgina
Solo
Workshop Information
The show is part of a participatory educational
workshop, creating a package that lasts approximately 2 hours. During
the workshop, young people have the chance to discuss what they
have seen and use puppets to explore the consequences of some decisions
about sex and relationships.
The production comes with an activity pack for
teachers, youth workers and school nurses with ideas for sessions or lessons
before and after the performance/workshop.
Booking Information
Ages |
Suitable for 13 to 14 year olds of both sexes. |
Running time |
2 hours including workshop |
Suitable venues |
Schools and youth centres |
Availability |
not currently touring |
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The Project
DNA worked with young people at Revoe youth centre, Blackpool,
in October 2000, consulting them on their concerns about and attitudes
to sex and relationships.
Students from St George's and Bispham high schools in Blackpool
took this material, added to it, and developed a puppetry perfomance
using skills and technques acquired from a series of workshops with
DNA.
A selection of students from these workshops devised a show
using a variety of live performance, puppetry and visual projection techniques
which they performed at their schools and at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool as
part of Puppet Up! 2001 festival of puppetry and visual theatre.
Questionnaires after the performances, and other evaluation
findings, were used to refine the young people's ideas.
Actors and puppeteers used the young people's
ideas as the basis for a professional touring show, combined with
an educational workshop, and education pack. This education pack
can be purchased separately. Please email for details.
SAMPLE EDUCATION PACK PAGE
How puppetry can enhance sex & relationships
education
What makes puppetry particularly suitable
for sex and relationships education is its distancing effect. Just
as Rod Hull was never blamed for his puppet Emu's bad behaviour,
a young person can make a puppet say and do things which they would
feel unable to do.
This allows young people to talk, listen and
think about sex, relationships and other sensitive subjects in a
way that reduces embarrassment and protects privacy.
Distancing techniques are recommended in the
Department for Education and Employment's curriculum and standards
guidance on Sex and Relationship Education (theatre in education
is also recommended).
Young people who helped to develop the Sex &
Chips project were asked: "Would it feel any different doing
the puppet bits of the performance as 'straight' drama, without
puppets?" The three young people with fewer inhibitions said
it would make no difference.
But other members said: · "Sex &
relationships can be an embarrassing subject, and puppets make it
less embarrassing, it's not them, it's just a puppet
puppets
take away the embarrassment." · "You can express
yourself through it [the puppet], no one else knows it's you, they
think it's just the puppets, but it could be you inside."
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