The Bullying Games production, which saw hundreds of local students learn about bullying in a compassionate way last week, may have a future if a sponsor comes forward, the producer says.
Mandy Tulloch said she would like to remount the project in the fall so more students - perhaps in other regions of Canada - see the play based on real life stories from School District 43 students.
The Bullying Games, which ran at Terry Fox Theatre for four days last week, featured a talented SD43 cast. Drama educator, Tulloch, produced, wrote and directed the production but it was initiated by Terry Fox leadership students and their teacher Dean Whitson.
According to Tulloch, The Bullying Games is a terrific vehicle for providing information and helping young people figure out positive ways to handle negative comments in cyberspace and other kinds of bullying.
Students who saw the production this past week learned about racial bullying, cyber bullying, relationship bullying, physical bullying, hazing and some of the circumstances that might lead to bullying. There were some standout songs, especially one by "Jakus 12" who bullied because he didn't fit into his new school. "I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare," he sang in a touching tribute to being young and alone.
For the older crowd, there were many humorous moments to appreciate, especially one hilarious scene where a relationship bully "Susan" can't give up her iPhone to have a serious conversation with her friend.
What's so enjoyable about The Bullying Games, is that the characters are given a chance to explain their situation and the audience comes to realize how people can make mistakes but they can also change for the better.
The production is particularly notable, given the deaths of Amanda Todd, a PoCo student who was cyberbullied, and, most recently, Rehtaeh Parsons, the alleged victim of a gang rape who is also believed to have been cyberbullied.
Whitson told The News that the effort to put on the major production was worth it because so many people, especially children, got to learn about bullying and its consequences in a new and different way.
"I was thrilled with the response to The Bullying Games," Whitson said.
