Let's Talk About Sex

Subject: Drama
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 14 - 16
Order Number: 5204

Let's Talk About Sex was devised directly from work led by the author with female students in a Year 10 GCSE Drama workshop. The students wanted to produce a play that reflected their own lives and concerns about sex, alcohol and growing up. The students wanted to use a range of theatre techniques to tell a strong dramatic story, while giving facts and information to help young women like them make choices about their lives. They felt that sex education lessons did not prepare them well enough, and wanted to use theatre to offer an alternative view. The result is an emotional, frank piece of documentary theatre drawing on the students' own experiences and including up-to-date information on teenage pregnancy, alcohol use, contraception and STIs. The piece is presented in a fast-paced, multi-role style suitable for actors aged 14-18. It can be performed as a scripted piece for performance examinations for AQA GCSE Drama or as a TIE performance. The play can also be used for group reading and discussion in sex education lessons. Suggested topics for discussion are included.

Let's Talk About Sex uses split-scene staging and can be produced with simple props and costumes in the average school hall or Drama space. The play offers opportunities for Drama students to explore techniques including Multi-Role, Physical Theatre, Mime, Freeze, Monologue, Thought-In-The-Head, Choral speaking, Direct Address and the Brechtian use of signs and projection.