Lies, deception and the age of irresponsibility

THE Tangled Web is a play which examines the issues and consequences of irresponsible teenage sexual activity. Written by US playwright Laurie Brooks and performed by the educational touring company Graffiti Theatre, it looks at lies, deceptions and the boundaries of loyalty and protectiveness. Given reports on the declining age of sexual experimentation in Ireland, its tour of schools in Munster and South Leinster is a timely one. On the road for more than six weeks now the response, according to Jennifer O'Donnell of Graffiti, has been "great". With the tour continuing until early December the play may arrive at a school near you in the coming weeks.

Commissioned by Graffiti, who've been touring schools since l984, the play is part of a programme designed to complement the Social, Personal and Health Education (CPSE) curriculum in second-level schools. It is intended as a focus for an examination of moral and ethical questions related to teenage sexuality. Jennifer O'Donnell of Graffiti says that "the play was aimed at 13to 14-year-olds since a survey and workshops indicated the younger ones needed the information. Some schools have taken it for this age group, but mostly it's been seen by Transition Year students and older." A school visit by Graffiti includes a pre-performance introductory workshop, the performance of the play itself, a post-performance workshop and a resource pack for teachers' use in follow-up work. The entire programme takes about two hours. You can get more information from Graffiti Theatre Company at the Weightmaster's House, 2 Church Street, Cork (tel: (021) 439 7111).