UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 25 NOVEMBER 2015
Birmingham School of Acting (BSA), part of Birmingham City University, is addressing the impact of sexting and pornography on young people and their relationships in a new theatre production.
Devised and performed by second year Applied Performance students at BSA, 'The Sext Generation' is an interdisciplinary performance which uses a fusion of song, dance and spoken word to tell the story of Sophie and Josh, a teenage couple who face the consequences of sexting. Pressurised by friends, Josh asks Sophie for an inappropriate image of her – the play goes on to explore how their relationship with each other and their peers is impacted as a result.
Sophie and Josh are almost ‘Facebook official’ and then he asks her for a picture…
Sexting is an increasingly common activity among young people, where they share sexually explicit texts, images or videos on their mobile phones – usually in a text message. Worryingly, young people often do not see sexting as a problem and are reluctant to talk to adults about it because they are afraid of being judged or having their phones taken away. However, there were over 1,200 ChildLine counselling sessions that mentioned 'sexting' in 2014/15.
While devising The Sext Generation, the performers themselves spent time researching the issues of sexting among the 13- to 18-year-old age group the play is aimed at. They found – through focus groups with teenagers – that sexting is affecting children as young as 11-years-old.
"In this fusion of drama, song, dance and spoken word we also explore the accessibility of pornography for young people through digital technology and the impact this has on them and their relationships. We don’t have all the answers to these complex issues but we certainly hope to raise some important questions.”
Funding for 'The Sext Generation' has come from Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid to give young people across Birmingham and Solihull free access to this performance in celebration of their 35th anniversary.
The performers also received training from the charity to better understand issues of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse – and how women can seek support.
Maureen Connolly, Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham and Solihull’s Women's Aid, said: "The Sext Generation offers young people and professionals that work with them an opportunity to explore the devastating impact of sexting and pornography upon their lives and relationships. We need to address these issues head on to safeguard our young people.
"Thank you Hannah and the students of Birmingham School of Acting for once again delivering a challenging and thought-provoking production.”
Performances take place at The Drum, Birmingham between Friday 27 November and Friday 4 December, with tickets priced at £5.