Age Group

12-16 year olds

Year Group

Key Stage 3 / 4

Duration

50-60 minutes

Group Size

5 - 250

Resource Pack?

Available

Follow Up Workshop

Request details

Digital Version?

No

Risking It All

Risking It All

Risking It All is a 50-minute interactive theatre production that addresses child sexual exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). It highlights how risky behaviour among adolescents can lead to vulnerability and dangerous situations.

Based on the lived experiences of teenagers, Risking It All portrays the grooming process using victims’ personal accounts and helps young people spot the signs of exploitation. The session is a provocative and immersive learning experience where facilitators encourage audiences to discuss the risks identified, spot the signs of exploitation, and discuss the consequences faced by two central characters.

With support from Arts Council England a series of consultation and workshop sessions were held with young people, victims of exploitation, and professionals. These sessions were an opportunity for teenagers to share their personal stories, ask questions, and examine real-life case studies, all of which contributed to the creation of the script for Risking It All.

Julia is 15 years old. She has trouble at home with her mum’s boyfriend. He is often inappropriate with Julia and she doesn’t like it. Julia then meets Connor online. He has a nice car, he spoils her with gifts and he’s more mature than the boys at school. The character of Julia highlights the grooming process as she finds herself in some dangerous and exploitative situations.

Ben is 16, is at odds with his mum and his grades are dropping at school. The only time he feels relaxed is when he’s with Stu, his mate’s older brother. Stu’s got his own flat, throws the sickest house parties and isn’t on Ben’s back all the time. The character of Ben explores issues of risk, alcohol and substance misuse, grooming and criminal exploitation.
- Raise awareness of unhealthy relationships and sexual exploitation
- Highlight what unsafe online contact looks like in everyday life
- Encourage teenagers to identify the signs of criminal exploitation and grooming
- Examine the risks of drug and alcohol misuse
- Signpost support networks available
- Recognising personal strengths, how affects self-confidence and self-esteem
- Recognising how qualities are evaluated by others
- Recognising and reducing risk, minimising harm and strategies for getting help in risky situations
- Understanding inappropriate use of phones
- Misuse of drugs and alcohol and effect on sexual behaviour
- Qualities and behaviours in a range of positive relationships
- Features of positive relationships and those of unhealthy relationships
- Different types of relationships: families, friendships, romantic
- Roles and responsibilities of parents and children
- Consent
- Recognising bullying and abuse in all its forms
- Support services available if in an unhealthy or abusive relationship
- Peer pressure
- Safe and responsible use of ICT
- Understanding right to privacy - pressure to share explicit images of themselves
- Recognising manipulation, persuasion or coercion
- Peers supporting one another
- Personal risks associated with sharing intimate images of others

Key Themes

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
BEING SAFE
SUBSTANCE MISUSE
CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION
SEXTING
RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOUR
GROOMING
VAPING
COERCIVE BEHAVIOUR

‘Risking It All’ provided crucial information about where students could seek help and support.

The performance was fantastic as it dealt with issues that some students may well have had first-hand experience of. It also provided crucial information about where students could seek help and support. Very good. Highly recommend.

Head of Humanities / Hartford High School

The session deals with underage drinking, county lines and inappropriate relationships is a sensitive but powerful way.

I would highly recommend the “Risking It All” session from 2engage. The session deals with underage drinking, county lines and inappropriate relationships is a sensitive but powerful way. Our students thoroughly enjoyed watching the performance as well as discussing each character in interactive way. This session connected well with the pupils to provide them a more enriched RSHE curriculum.

RSHE Coordinator / Weaverham High School

‘Risking It All’ covered a variety of topics in a sensitive and hard-hitting way.

2engage’s performance of ‘Risking It All’ covered a variety of topics in a sensitive and hard-hitting way. It’s a really good drama that not only brings to life the issues that are hard to communicate to young people, but also the behaviour that sees vulnerable people fall into situations where they are at risk of exploitation in the form of inappropriate relationships and social media.

Project Development Officer / Esteem Resource Network

A thought provoking, powerful piece of drama.

A thought provoking, powerful piece of drama which covers so much, in such a short space of time. Students were engaged from the opening to the end, and left wanting more! Highly recommend inviting the 2engage team into any school.

Mike Hughes

I highly recommend this show to all year 9 students.

We had great feedback from the year 9 students. They were totally absorbed during the whole performance and very complimentary about the acting, messages, themes and overall delivery. They cared about the characters and wanted to know more about them by the end! I highly recommend this show to all year 9 students.

Lisa Mckay

An engaging and thought-provoking performance.

An engaging and thought-provoking performance that highlighted the dangers of child sexual exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students and supported our PSHE curriculum well.

Sean Kenneally