Herefordshire | Archive | 2007 | October | 8
From the Hereford Times, first published Monday 8th Oct 2007.
THE stage is set for a pioneering community project to make its national debut at Hereford's Courtyard theatre.
SPeAR the experience' is an interactive street-style performance which will be seen by up to 2,000 Herefordshire school pupils for free, and also by families in two low-cost public performances, to make them think about sustainable issues in relation to their own lifestyles.
As the first of its kind in the UK, the show will make Herefordshire the national launchpad for this unique programme that it is hoped will become an annual event, spreading out to neighbouring counties too.
Audiences will leave a departure lounge' displaying lifestyle choices that could compromise the future locally and globally and then find themselves taking part in a gameshow designed to challenge those issues, before ending up in an arrivals lounge' at the other end.
Kingspan Insulation provided key funding for the £80,000 project after working with consultancy company Arup, which originally devised the idea.
John Garbutt, Kingspan's marketing director, said: "During the weekday performances it's all about Herefordshire schools but the evening sessions are for everybody.
"If we could get, for example, Gloucestershire, Shropshire and Powys to do this production, costs get sunk and spread, and it becomes more accessible to everybody."
Bulmers, Arts and Business - West Midlands, and Herefordshire Council are among other local organisations supporting the project.
Richard Heathcote of Bulmers said: "This is part of Bulmer's growing commitment to Herefordshire, and our work in supporting the responsible enjoyment of alcohol.
"It is also part of our wider sustainable development agenda, and in particular recognises the role early education plays in establishing young people's self-esteem."
Following the show SPeAR tools, or packs, offering practical advice to help schools do more to include sustainability within their day-to-day running, and work towards existing sustainability schemes, will be distributed.
Pupils from around the county have also been working on a range of related artwork and pieces of writing that will be displayed in the theatre foyer prior to the performance.
Public performances will take place at 7pm on October 19 and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday October 20.
Tickets costing £6, with adults accompanying under-16s paying £5, are available from The Courtyard box office.
You can win family tickets to the public performances on October 19 and 20 by sending a postcard to SPeAR competition, Hereford Times, Holmer Road, Hereford, answering the question: Where is the production taking place?
© Newsquest Media Group 2008