Teenagers perform play for top Minister

Aug 14 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

Teenagers perform play for top Minister

YOUNG actors from across Lanarkshire have performed an innovative play in front of a Scottish Government Minister.

TLK 2 ME - a theatrical production developed by and for young people to raise awareness of mental health issues - was performed for Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, during her visit to the county last week.

The young people, aged 13-23, worked with professionals from an award winning Glasgow-based theatre company to identify relevant issues and storylines to which teenagers relate.

Issues covered in the drama included self harm, eating disorders, depression, stress, anxiety, drug and alcohol misuse.

The drama was developed earlier this year and has been performed to much acclaim to a variety of audiences across South Lanarkshire.

Following the play, Ms Sturgeon said: “The performance of the play completely blew me away.

“To know that it was written, put together and performed by the youngsters themselves was amazing. The issues covered in the play are issues that are faced by young people as they are growing up.

“I would like to record my thanks and congratulations to all of the performers.”

The Cabinet Secretary now hopes the play will be performed to a wider audience in the Scottish Parliament in the near future.

Ms Sturgeon was in the county to conduct the annual review of NHS Lanarkshire.

The meeting was part of the Scottish Government’s assessment of the region’s performance during the previous year.

The review was held last Wednesday, August 6, in South Lanarkshire Council Headquarters, Hamilton.

The TLK2ME play was part of the review in conjunction with Healthy Valleys and Hamilton Information Project for Youth - two groups who work in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire.

Alan Lawrie, a director with NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We were pleased to incorporate this performance as part of our annual review.

“We would like to thank our partners at Healthy Valleys and Hamilton Information Project for Youth for making this possible.”

Wendy Kyle, young persons development worker with Healthy Valleys, added: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the young people involved in the play to perform in front of a different kind of audience.

“Those who have already seen the play pass remarks about the impact it has had on them. The cast were thrilled to perform in front of the Cabinet Secretary.”

Andrew Longwe (18), from Kirkmuirhill, who performed in the play, commented: “It was a real buzz to perform in front of so many important people. It was even better when we realised that it was being filmed.”