Know Your Mind
A hugely engaging and informative tour through DJ Groovemaker’s drugs lab,
where young people aged 11 to 16 learn key facts about drugs and alcohol
delivered in an entertaining and non-patronising way
the comments from the students reinforce this. When they came into school this morning,
after the weekend, they were still talking about it!”
Imelda Gunn, St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School, Harlow, Essex
Know Your Mind is one of the company’s most prestigious and popular performances and has been performed to over 50,000 young people, to massive success. This exciting informative one hour of theatre looks at the physical, psychological and social effects of many drugs including alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, crack, heroin and solvents.
The show offers clear, accurate information and a balanced perspective on drugs delivered in a realistic and humorous way, which also highlights the darker side of drug abuse.
The abuse of alcohol is an ongoing problem amongst young people and Chain Reaction address this issue by showing that the addictive nature of alcohol and the devastating effects of its abuse are as great as any illegal substance.
Know Your Mind explores skills in personal decision-making and demonstrates the life-changing effects that drugs and alcohol can have on young people. It reminds our audiences that peer pressure is common and it’s always smarter to make your own decisions. By encouraging young people to look at their own attitudes towards drug and alcohol misuse, this show empowers them to make positive and informed decisions.
the pupils responded well to the fact that you did not preach about drugs,
but dealt with the issue in a fun and lyrical manner.”
Neil Cornmell, Academic Manager, Drama, The Grays School, Thurrock, Essex
THE NEED
Almost half of all drug users between the ages of 10 and 25 report first using a drug between the ages of 10 and 15. Additionally, 29% of pupils aged 10 to 15 report smoking and drinking in the last seven days or taking a drug in the last month.
In September 2009 a new international study revealed that “young teenagers aged 13-15 in the UK are more likely to get drunk than anywhere else in the industrial world”.
The government’s ten-year strategy for tackling drug misuse states that “the most effective way of reducing the harm drugs cause is to persuade all potential users, but particularly the young, not to take drugs… success will only be achieved if we stop young people developing drug problems”.
In the Every Child Matters framework, two of the key outcomes are ‘Stay Safe’ and ‘Be Healthy’. Two of the key ‘Be Healthy’ aims are that young people live a healthy lifestyle (including not drinking alcohol or smoking) and choose not to take illegal drugs.
Today, more than ever, young people’s awareness of the realities of drug and alcohol use is essential to achieving these goals. As such, the main objective of Know Your Mind is to encourage young people not to start using illegal drugs or alcohol, by exploring the myths and providing appropriate information around substance use and misuse.
THE SHOW
Know Your Mind for secondary schools follows the story of Charlie Bucket, a savvy young girl from East London who is fortunate enough to find one of DJ Groovemaker’s lucky golden flyers, winning a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the legendary drugs laboratory. As Charlie and her fellow winners tour the lab she discovers that her companions have some pretty big problems…
Delightful youth worker Josie Moral believes we should all ‘Just Say No’ to drugs, but it appears that Josie has her own demons and she can’t resist spending almost every night in the pub. Poor Mikalia Divvy is easily led, and finds out the hard way why we should resist peer pressure and follow our own minds. Finally, Veruka Spoilt, ‘the celebrity’ who wants to live a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and just says ‘yes’ to all the drugs available, ends up in a terrible state and finds out that taking drugs isn’t as glamorous as she originally thought.
Along the way we meet an array of familiar faces, including Ali G (Aiii!), the stern-faced Anne Robinson with a special round of The Weakest Link and our special guest, Dilla Dealer, who arms our characters with the hard-hitting facts they need to steer clear of drugs.
so I picked up more information because I wasn’t bored.”
Pupil, Hainault Forest High School, London Borough of Redbridge
KNOW YOUR MIND TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE…
- about the different kinds of drugs, the effects they can have and their associated risks
- about alcohol, the effects it can have and the associated risks
- about legal everyday drugs and medicinal drugs including caffeine and steroids
- to look at their own attitudes towards drug and alcohol misuse
- the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on your life
- to resist peer pressure with regard to decisions about alcohol and drug use
- to avoid participating in alcohol and drug use/misuse by making positive, informed choices
- the legalities of drugs and which legal classification they belong to
- that drugs are rarely ‘pure’ and are ‘cut’ with a range of other dangerous substances
- to be confident in making their own decisions and knowing their own minds
Pupil, Dagenham Park Community School, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
AT A GLANCE…
| Show length: | 60 mins |
| Additional extras: | Teachers’ resource pack |
| Optional extras: | 1 hour workshop |
| For ages: | 11 – 16 |
| School year groups: | 7 – 11 |
| Level: | Secondary |
| Curriculum links and current themes: |
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(especially as it over ran their break!) It was pitched at just the right level. It was excellent.
The best theatre company production I have seen in secondary schools in my PSHE experience.”
Gail Peters, Head of PSHE, Axton Chase School, Kent
See the “What’s On” box (left) to find out if this project is touring soon.
To receive a past evaluation report or to find out more get in touch.
