Translink and Music Theatre 4 Youth call for entries in Schools Safety Challenge

The competition winners will work with a West End producer and choreographer to create and perform their own original piece of safety-themed musical theatre on stage.

The ‘Translink Schools Safety Challenge’ which was launched in October last and is supported by the Arts & Business investment programme, is a competition for second level students to promote the safe use of rail travel. It is open to drama classes, performance groups or anyone aged 11-15 and interested in dance, music or theatre. Groups and individuals are invited to devise a performance that highlights the dangers of trains and railway lines and email a short film of their ideas (not larger than 10MB) to [email protected] by the extended closing date of February 10th.

Lynda Shannon, Communications Manager for Translink said, “We have already had lots of interest in the competition and it has been exciting to see how the safety theme has been interpreted so creatively by young people. We have extended the closing date due to popular demand from additional groups and schools wishing to enter.

This competition is a great way for us to reach out to young people and challenge them to really think about rail safety and we just want to remind late entrants that we’re not looking for professional films, we just want to see ideas, so use your phone or digital camera to film your piece and then email it to us before February 10th.”

Jenny Cooke, Chief Executive of Music Theatre 4 Youth said, “This is a really exciting project for our young people to be involved in. We are so pleased to be working with Translink in the delivery of the rail safety competition which allows young people to tackle a serious issue in a creative way and have their talents nurtured by exposure to professionals in the workshop and performance settings.”

The winning group which will be judged by Syd Ralph (West End Director), Paul Madden (West End Choreographer), Shane McVicker (Northern Irish Musician) and Translink, will be selected to take part in a 2 day drama workshop in Belfast in March with a top musical director and choreographer and a group of young people from Music Theatre 4 Youth. The group will then perform their piece of theatre in front of a specially invited audience in a Belfast City centre venue.

For further information and ideas go to www.translink.co.uk/railsafetychallenge www.youtube.com/user/TranslinkNI or contact our press office on 028 90899455 for a copy of our safety DVD.”