As part of the East Riding Road Safety Team’s commitment to keeping young people safe across the region, they have partnered with Safer Roads Humber to fund an opportunity for schools to host the ‘What went down…’ roadshow – a unique Theatre in Education (TIE) project that explores the key themes of road safety.  

Year 7 students at Withernsea High School were this week some of the first to experience the roadshow as it reached East Yorkshire as part of an on-going national tour.

The roadshow aims to raise awareness of the dangers that roadside distractions such as music, phones and friends can bring, with a focus on how young people can identify and cope with peer influence and the associated pressure that may impact their safety and wellbeing. The event also promotes safe, responsible and positive behaviour amongst students on their journeys to and from school.

The hour-long event featured a live drama performance where various scenarios were played out. This was followed by an interactive workshop where students were asked questions based on what they’d seen, with an opportunity for them to ask their own questions and enter into discussion about the show’s scenarios.

Overseeing the event was School Sports Co-ordinator and Children and Young People's Physical Activity Co-ordinator Nick Richmond who commented: ‘The roadshow was really engaging. It proved to be a fun and interactive way of getting an important message across to the students, with thought-provoking questions making them consider their own responses to the scenarios played out in front of them. Their behaviour was impeccable, and it was great to see them so absorbed in the performance.’

Zoie Wiseman, Head of Year 7, added: ‘Opportunities such as these are invaluable for our students and contribute towards the wider-learning experiences they will enjoy through their time in high school. It was great to see so many students put themselves forward, asking sensible and mature questions that demonstrated a clear understanding of the performance and the risks of the road.’

Feedback from the cast of the performance was equally positive, with the group commenting: ‘From the off, we were met with a warm welcome at Withernsea High School. We were very impressed by the conduct of the students and their inquisitive nature towards the presentation. Overall, it’s a lovely school and we would welcome the chance to return!’

The roadshow was delivered by The Riot Act – a theatre company who design bespoke interventions for young people and schools, using creativity and key behavioural change techniques to design projects that are engaging, contemporary and relevant. They cover a multitude of issues, specialising in promoting key road safety, sustainable travel and air quality messages in ways that have a real emotional and educational impact.

Meanwhile, to help spread their wider message of safety, the East Riding Road Safety Team have launched their own website dedicated to keeping people safe on the region’s roads. Featuring advice for drivers, parents and schools, plus safety information for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, the website can be found at www.eastridingroadsafety.co.uk 

ABOVE: Withernsea High School’s Year 7 cohort enjoyed a performance by The Riot Act.

ABOVE: The performance helped to spread the important message of road safety with elements of humour. 

ABOVE: The performance tackled serious issues in a physically engaging way.