Newcastle University

The play, called 'The Real McKoi', has been written specifically for school audiences and features four young people who have bunked off for the day. They discuss their feelings about school, peer-pressure and their hopes for the future while a surprising twist at the end should particularly challenge the audience who then get to question the characters.

Written and produced by Operating Theatre with the help of pupils from two North East schools, this is a new departure for the company which is known for its thought-provoking plays on health themes using professional writers, directors and actors.

"We so often hear of young people who aren’t happy at school, who don’t want to learn and feel that they have little or no academic potential," says GP and Executive Director of Operating Theatre, Dr Dominic Slowie who also holds an honorary lectureship at Newcastle University.

"We want this production to challenge teenagers into thinking about what is holding them back and to give young people a chance they might not otherwise have, to think about continuing their education."

Pupils from the Excelsior Academy, Newcastle and Marden High School, North Shields helped to develop the drama through workshops with writer Carol Clewlow and Operating Theatre’s director, Alex Elliott. Teachers from the schools also contributed giving their perspectives on how young people can be inspired.

Taking part in the workshops were 16-year-olds Callum Beadle-Taylor and Natalie Morton from the Excelsior Academy, both keen students with excellent attendance records. Callum says, "It’s great to know that our opinions are being listened to. A play can really open people’s eyes and may make them think in a different way. Something like this adds to what goes on in school already."

Natalie adds, "It feels like our opinions count and that we’re being noticed. The script writers really wanted to know what we thought.

"A play tackles truanting differently. Instead of saying kids do this or that, it talks to us in a different way and explains how we feel."

Professor Paul Younger, Newcastle University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) who commissioned the production, says, "One of the biggest problems facing our region is that our teenagers have the lowest rates of take-up of higher education in the country. Drama can go straight to the heart of the reasons behind this and that is why we called on the talents of Operating Theatre – with very entertaining and thought-provoking results.

"University education can give people a great opportunity to excel in subjects which they feel passionate about, broadening horizons in ways that were often unimaginable earlier in their lives."

‘The Real McKoi’ goes on tour around schools in Newcastle and the surrounding area at the beginning of November this year.

Featuring professional actors, each performance will be followed by a hot-seating workshop in which the audience (year 10 or 11) will be able to cross-question the characters in the play to further explore the issues involved.

Anyone interested in having the play staged at their school - which is free and only requires a space such as a school hall - should contact Julie Preece at Aimhigher Newcastle on julie.preece@newcastle.gov.uk or tel: 0191 211 5321

Photo features 'The Real McKoi' actors (standing left to right) Lee Jones, Gillie Kleiman (sitting left to right) Simon Hymers and Leah Baskaran.