SMASHED

SMASHED uses powerful live theatre and interactive workshops to engage students on the dangers of underage drinking. Designed for Year 9 - 10 students, audiences follow the lives of three young people and witness how they become involved with alcohol and how it affects their lives.

A 30 minute performance communicates important information and facts about alcohol and shows the potential impact of drinking on; relationships with peers and adults; academic results and aspirations; anti-social behaviour and violence as well as accident and injury. 

Following the performance a 30 minute interactive workshop engages students in discussion as they explore the facts further. Together the facilitators and students work through strategies for resisting peer influence and informed decision making. 

Teachers are encouraged to continue learning in the school classroom after the performance and are provided with supporting teacher resources and lesson plans.

Read the SMASHED Outcomes Summary

In 2021 and 2022, SMASHED was reviewed by the New Zealand Council of Educational Research (NZCER). They found that the programme was highly valued by schools and reinforced information and social competency strategies covered in the classroom. Read the summary of findings

Why Theatre?

Theatre-in-Education (TiE) is a unique learning experience supporting a wide range of learning styles and behaviours. TiE is frequently used as an educational tool to explore social behaviour and attitudes using social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory (SCT) holds that portions of an individual's knowledge acquisition can be directly related to observing others within the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences.

Consistent with the New Zealand Curriculum, and the Ministry of Education Guidelines for teaching Alcohol and Other Drugs, SMASHED focuses on students acquiring skills and knowledge.

*Secondary School Principals Association

Funding

Life Education is supported by The Tomorrow Project and other community funders to provide the SMASHED programme, enabling it to be provided at no charge to schools. The Tomorrow Project is a charity established in 2012 by NZ Brewers, NZ Wine Growers and NZ Distillers Association to support initiatives that promote responsible attitudes to alcohol consumption.