A powerful peer-led Theatre-in-Education project that tackles
issues of unplanned teenage pregnancy and sexual health.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has called for:

"..more to be done to halt the rise of sexually transmitted infections and prevent under 18 conceptions, of which the UK has the highest rates in Europe".

Emily and Joe are facing their GCSEs and they've heard all the statistics: they know that they live in the country with the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe; they know about contraception and about increased rates of infection.

...so why are Emily and Joe going to have a baby?

Performed and presented by young people for young people, Keeping It is a new play about the most awkward and most exciting time of your life, about being in love and about facing the consequences.

With a contemporary soundtrack and pulling no punches, Keeping It aims to demystify sexuality and to empower young people, helping them to make their own informed decisions about sexual health, contraception and pregnancy. Originally developed by mtp to a commission from the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage, it is designed to be presented by year 10 pupils for audiences year 9 and above.

The Play:

Keeping It  is fast and funny and maybe just a little bit uncomfortable. Emily and Joe's story is told from their own and from several other viewpoints: peers, friendly and otherwise, family and other adults in the wider world. During the play, the central characters step out of the action to talk directly to the audience, preparing them for interaction in the workshop.

The Workshop:

Staying in character, the performers use forum theatre techniques to encourage the audience to suggest different paths the story might follow and actions and reactions that might result in a different outcome. The audience is asked to review the story and to identify'key' scenes in which characters could or should have made different decisions.

The actors replay one of the chosen 'key' scenes. The audience can freeze the action at any point. They are then asked why they have chosen to do so and invited to become're-writers'. The actors then replay the scene again.

The actor/facilitators invite the audience to become the actors, stepping into the lives of the characters and learning the lessons of the story through their own roleplay.

Quoting Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism (2007):

"This innovative performance and workshop addresses the government's 'Every Child Matters' agenda at a number of levels and is a really good example of how peer education can be delivered.

Keeping It is a ground-breaking programme that is proving highly successful in secondary schools in the East of England. With scope for delivery in a variety of settings, it is an excellent way of dealing with issues which affect the welfare of young people."

mtp has the full backing of the school nurse teams from the area PCTs who are always on hand on performance days to take questions and offer advice. Keeping It has also benefited from the input of local agencies including The Young Mums Club at Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage.