Performing arts targets teenage pregnancy issues

How do you get important social messages across to teenagers who are more inclined to vote for Big Brother evictions than at National elections?

This was the challenge facing Ludus Dance Company in their new work addressing teenage pregnancy, Zygote, commissioned by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC).

Ludus, who are known for their issue-based work for young people, roll choreography, film and music into a gameshow format to chart the rollercoaster journey of the teenage years. The game is Zygote, the question, who will become pregnant?

Tessa Massey, Arts Services Manager for NWLDC, said the performance is suitable for 11 year olds upwards, and is educationally, sexually explicit.

Ms Massey said Zygote is non-judgemental and offers no right or wrong answers.

‘The piece seeks to make clear the choices, dilemmas and realities faced by young people when they become sexually active, the risk and consequences they face at this time in their lives, and the often harsh realities of facing pregnancy at such an early stage,’ Ms Massey said.

Britain currently has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe, putting it high on the Government’s agenda.

In 1999, the Government launched a strategy to halve teenage births by 2010.

Worryingly, a recent survey of 650 students at 140 primary, secondary and special schools found one in five lessons about sexual health and the law, in relation to sex, were ‘poor.’

Recent NUS research also came to the same conclusion: that sex education in the UK isn’t working.

Zygote is designed to tie in with National Curriculum PHSE and Positive Citizenship Guidelines and was carefully researched with groups in the North West Leicestershire community to ensure key issues and views were represented correctly.

Ms Massey said Ludus teachers and dancers worked with about eighty young people from schools, youth clubs and parents’ groups in May to draw together a Steering Group of eight people.

This group then worked with Ludus to explore progress and issues and a work in progress was presented to a team of health professionals at the end of July.

Their comments were taken into account to further hone the final performance, while further research was conducted in partnership with the North West Leicestershire Health Forum (Teenage Health Sub Group).

‘The company have worked closely on ensuring that as the piece develops it is representing the issues professionally, responsibly and in line with current topical thinking,’ Ms Massey said.

Support materials and a practical educational workshop package have been produced for the show by the team of health professionals.

Ms Massey said Ludus were an obvious choice to convey the sensitive issue of teenage pregnancy, with their strong track record of educational theatre.

‘I was approached by NWL Health Forum Teenage Health Group Subgroup initially to talk to the group about the possibilities of using arts-based projects to address teenage health issues,’ Ms Massey explained.

‘I was aware of the nature and reputation of Ludus’ work as a company who create issue-based work for young people. Dance is a social form that we all engage in, and together with music has a particular resonance with youth culture and lifestyle,’ she continued.

‘This led to the decision to work with Ludus and use a dance-based physical approach to tackling this issue.’

The project has also received considerable support, including financial, from the community.

It has been jointly funded by the Regional Arts Lottery Programme through East Midlands Arts, Leicestershire Health and the Health Promotions Innovations Fund, from North West Leicestershire District Council and from all other Leicestershire Districts and Boroughs and the Counties Councils of Leicestershire and Rutland.

In a society where young people are increasingly influenced by a tabloid media frenzy, where more have heard of David Beckham than Jane Austen and shows like Big Brother incite celebrity mass-hysteria, new ways of getting important messages across that young people can relate to poses a greater creative challenge.

The combination of gameshow fanaticism, music and dance in Zygote, supported by extensive research within young peoples’ communities, will hopefully provide a model and direction for further education.

Zygote will premiere at the Phoenix Arts Centre, Newarke Street, Leicester on 17 September 2002,(8pm,£8/£6) followed by a 4-week residency in Leicestershire and will then tour nationally and internationally.