PUPILS at a Cirencester school are set to receive a powerful lesson on the perils of underage drinking.

Alcohol awareness theatre production ‘Smashed’ is returning to schools across the UK as part of its biggest ever tour. 

The production helps secondary-school children understand the facts, causes and consequences of underage drinking by combining theatre with interactive workshops.

Smashed will visit Rendcomb College today, Tuesday, September 10.

Now in its 15th year, Smashed has delivered educational performances to students in 38 countries around the world.

By delivering a combination of live theatre performances, interactive workshops and digital experiences, the project educates young people about the dangers of alcohol use. 

Combining drama with interactive workshops, Smashed uses professional actors to present a 25-minute performance followed by a 35-minute workshop where participants reflect on the themes and answer questions about the choices made by the characters.

The production is facilitated by Collingwood Learning and sponsored by Diageo.

Smashed actors from Collingwood Learning will be in local secondary schools this week (Image: Submitted)

Nuno Teles, managing director at Diageo GB, said: “I am so proud that ‘Smashed’ has reached its twentieth year in Great Britain. 

“This really is a testament to the incredible impact of the programme worldwide, consistently delivering a fantastic learning experience for young people with a proven significant increase in understanding of the dangers of underage drinking. 

“At Diageo, we are deeply committed to tackling underage drinking and we hope that the students we are visiting will not only gain valuable insights from the performances, but also leave better informed and prepared to make responsible choices about alcohol.”
 
Chris Simes, managing director at Collingwood Learning, added: “We are excited to return with Smashed Live in Autumn 2024. 

“Despite the progress made in reducing underage drinking across Great Britain, it remains crucial to continue reinforcing our message, and our team is eager to engage young people about the ongoing health and social risks of drinking underage.”