Theatre and Peer Education: An Innovative Approach to Health Promotion

Abstract

This paper describes a health promotion project with young people from three secondary schools in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. The project uses drama as a tool to promote social connectedness with family, peers, schools, and community. It draws on the results of an evaluation based on the production of "At All Costs". Drama facilitators from Footscray Community Arts Centre worked with students to workshop and develop issues and themes relevant to young people, Interviews, focus groups, and surveys were conducted to evaluate the benefits and impact of the project on the performers and audience of one of the secondary schools involved.