?Freak Boy? poses moral dilemma for audience . . .

THE subject of bullying was tackled in a performance by the Get Changed Theatre Company for adults with learning disabilities, watched by students from Okehampton College last week.

Students from Year 10 watched the group?s hard-hitting play ?Freak Boy? in two performances in the Octagon Theatre last Wednesday (June 16).

The show tackles two important issues: bullying and disability awareness. It was devised by the theatre company with research from Okehampton Community College students and day centre users in Okehampton and local youth groups.

?Freak Boy? tells the story of Greg, an adult with learning disabilities whose place attending numeracy and literacy classes at the college is under threat when he is accused of bullying Chris, a 12-year-old-girl who attends the school.

As the show unfolds, the audience comes to understand that both Chris and Greg are victims of bullying. The show poses a complex moral dilemma for the audience and encourages them to think about how they would try to tackle the problem.

Get Changed was founded in 1995, and is based in Okehampton, although its members come from across West Devon.

Greg Williams, who played the character of Greg said he had enjoyed performing in front of the audience of young people. ?I feel it went really well,? he said.

Greg said the whole group had worked together to come up with the idea behind ?Freak Boy? by sitting in a circle and beginning to tell the story that way.

Another member of the group Karen Pawley, said she was pleased to be able to get the message of the play across to young people. ?I had butterflies about doing it this morning, but this afternoon was OK,? she said.

Karen said she had experienced bullying herself when she went to school. ?I feel young children get scared and think to themselves, why is it me? But it is better to talk about it. So I felt very strongly about doing this,? she added.

Get Changed are now hoping to put on public performances of ?Freak Boy? later this summer as well as taking the play into other schools in the autumn term.