New Larne play tackles cyber bullying, online grooming and peer pressure

Control-Alt-Delete by the Spanner in the Works theatre company will be performed across East Antrim next month, and is set to be shown at Larne Town Hall on November 9 at 11am.

The play, which is being hosted by Mid and East Antrim PCSP, tells of the consequences when young people meet through an interactive online game and are plunged into the dark side of the internet and social media.

“The three young people in the play are aged 16-20 and one is video-game mad, the other is a bit of a nerd and the third is a young girl who loves to put videos of herself singing on Youtube,” explained the show’s writer and director Patricia Downey, who founded Spanner in the Works.

“One is being groomed by a troll, another is peer-pressured and another likes to play pranks. There is also a fourth person at the back of the stage who you don’t see as often.

“The young people are very naive and it shows the dangers of the internet that they can fall into, such as putting videos on Facebook, online gaming, sexting, grooming and trolling, cyber bullying, peer pressure, the deep web and snap chats.”

The play is aimed at both schools and parents, and Patricia says it has proved to be a real eye-opener for some.

“People have been blown away by it, kids are so knowledgeable with the internet and technology and their parents don’t know what’s going on,” she continued.

“People can be bullied, trolled or groomed 24 hours a day now, even in their own homes.

“We’re not saying kids should stop using the internet or playing games; technology is a wonderful thing, but they need to be aware of the dangers.”

To attend the play, phone Mid and East Antrim PCSP in advance on 02828262461 or email [email protected].