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Controversial subjects tackled by youth theatre group

Ambitious arts projects aimed at reducing exclusion from mainstream education and homophobia in Surrey's schools kicked off last week.

A team of youngsters from a full-time performing arts course set up by Woking-based youth group Peer Productions began a tour of the county's schools with the projects. The first, entitled The Homophobia Project is a play about a straight woman facing prejudice as she grows up in a world where homosexuality is the norm.  The Xclusions Project is a piece on exclusion from school, which is interspersed with video footage of interviews of youngsters with first-hand experience.

On Wednesday the teachers and councillors were invited to see the pieces at the Woking Youth Arts Centre in Trinity Road, Knaphill.

Peer co-founder Nina Lemon, directof of The Homophobia Project said both performances prompted encouraging responses.

She said: "It was incredibly well received and feedback from teachers and councillors was overwhelming.  People who work with children can be quite wary of subjects such as this.  A number of people came along to check the pieces were appropriate and I think they went away pleased that they were appropriate and confident that this was something they should be taking."

Performances are free to the majority of Surrey's schools thanks to grants from the Youth Opportunities and Local Network Funds.  Nina added: "We've got quite a few booked up but some places are still available so if schools are interested they can usually have this resource for free.  It's a mostly free resource and they should be taking it."

Jason Orbaum, who founded Peer Productions with Nina and directed The Xclusions Project said the performances could have a profound effect of their young audiences.  He said: "It's about talking to schools and saying to the puipls and the staff these kids are only different from you by two or three decisions.  It shows the traps these kids get into and doesn't blame them alone, although they do make their own choices.  it shows what it's like."

For further information on Peer Productions and its performances visit www.peerproductions.co.uk

Feedback on Previous Shows

• "...Thanks very much for arranging a great performance..."
• "...I think it was really good...."
• "...I felt that the exclusions project is very sympathetic and understanding..."
• "...an education for young people..."
• "...I learnt a lot..."
• "...I will take away the methods you can use..."