Plymouth play teaches children dangers of the internet

A play inspired by testimonies from young people in Plymouth has shown children the dangers of the internet.

The play, about sharing images, peer pressure and pornography, was performed to students at Plymstock School.

The script for The Groupchat was written in collaboration with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) based on testimonies from children in Plymouth.

It was performed by NK Theatre Arts .

Emma Motherwell from the NSPCC said it raised awareness of potential risks.

She said: “It’s part of a much, much, bigger campaign because we’re seeing the incidents around online harm and the access that young people are having to explicit content at an increasingly early age.

“Collectively we are coming together to think about how can we make sure young people can have better conversations with the people that can support them.”

The play used three scenarios, inspired by real people, to show the potential dangers.

Joe Ellerton, Head of Safeguarding at the school, said: “These topics are often difficult to discuss, like anything you might face within communities we like to face it head on, in quite a creative fashion that’s most useful for the children.”

The actors are amazed by how engaged the audiences have been.

Maisie Noble, who plays a character who sends an intimate photo to a boy only for it to be shared through her school, said: “You can hear people in the audience saying ‘don’t do it!’ It made me think oh my god, they’re listening.”

Sam Jeffries, plays a boy who develops a porn addiction after being sent videos in a group chat. He said that “even if one person, takes one lesson away from this, that’s the point, to teach people, to inform them.”