Crash course for pupils

Cockburn High School pupils Ellie Marston, Dominic Raper, left, and Aaron Schorah, far right, have helped Leeds University students to dramatise road safety issues.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th May 2010, 13:35 BST

Updated 13th May 2010, 13:35 BST

The drama students have devised small plays that include road safety information in a way that appeals to 14 and 15-year-olds. Yesterday second-year students from the university's school of performance and cultural industries took the message to the school in Beeston.

The project is being carried out in partnership with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Leeds City Council.

The subject of road safety covers a full range of emotions, which stretches the young actors' abilities and offers them the chance to make a lasting impact on the audience. The performances are followed by workshops which explore the issues raised.

Coun Stuart Andrew said: "We are very impressed with the way the students have taken the information they have been provided with and made hard-hitting performances that really reach a most vulnerable section of road users."

Picture: James Hardisty

Leeds City Council Beeston