THE Lyric Theater in Belfast will perform one of its plays which aims to raise awareness in primary schools about litter and plastic pollution.
The five-week tour of ‘A Walk Isn’t Just a Walk’ by the Theater’s Creative Learning Department will visit over 40 schools in 11 council areas.
The production, written by Jess Williams and Michael Beigel, highlights the environmental issues affecting life in Northern Ireland. Raising awareness of litter and plastic pollution, it aims to offer a new approach to learning about the environment.
Bringing the theatrical experience directly into the classroom, Lyric’s creative learning team helps teachers inspire elementary school children with lively workshops tied to their major stage productions.
Most recently, a special performance of the play took place at Lyric’s Naughton Studio in the presence of Environment Minister Edwin Poots.
“The funding provided by my department has enabled the production and delivery of this new play for Key Stage 2 pupils across Northern Ireland and provides a good example of DAERA undertaking a unique approach to change in behavior,” he said.
“It’s a powerful and entertaining performance that sends a positive message of behavior change to our children when it comes to litter, recycling and single-use plastics.
“By bringing this play to over 40 primary schools across Northern Ireland, important environmental messages about waste and recycling will be conveyed not only to the over 3,000 schoolchildren, future stewards of our environment, but to a much wider audience when they take this message to their families and beyond.”
Erin Hoey of the Lyric Theatre, added: “We are delighted to once again partner with the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring this exciting environmental project to primary school audiences.
“This will be one of the creative learning department’s largest educational ventures to date and we look forward to viewing a newly designed piece that has such an important and timely message.”