Regular cervical screening is essential for all women, yet there is a low rate of take-up of screening services in the Black Country. By demystifying the screening process and encouraging women to talk about their feelings, The Cervical Monologues aims to ensure that women are informed about their own health needs and empowered to take up screening appointments.

With the support of Dudley PCT, Women & Theatre’s Janice Connolly and Melisa Harrison have performed additional research with GPs and community groups to explore issues around the take-up of cervical screening services. From the research, Janice will write four new monologues to incorporate into the existing script, and increase the local relevance and impact of the piece. With these new voices that really reflect the local opinions in Dudley, the tour will aim to spark discussions about overcoming real and perceived barriers to accessing cervical screening services for Dudley’s diverse communities.

This is a great example of how W&T’s flexible and in-depth scripts can be used and adapted within local contexts. If you’re interested in a similar project, whether with Cervical Monologues or any of our other plays, please do drop us a line.

Thursday 4th March, 12.45pm @ St Thomas’s Network, Beechwood Road, DY2 7AQ
Friday 5th March, 12.45pm @ Lye Community Centre, Cross Walks Road, DY9 8BH
Wednesday 10th March, 12.45pm @ St James Medical Practice, Malthouse Drive, DY1 2BY
Everyone living in Dudley is welcome, but please book for groups of 5 or more on 0121 440 4203.

Scoffing: Available for touring in Summer 2009
Theme: Obesity – causes and diagnosis
Target audience: Weight management professionals, GPs, those diagnosed as clinically obese
Powerful and moving, Scoffing is a one-woman show full of music and images which resonates with people of all ages, shapes and sizes about eating, body image and self-confidence, exploring the complex factors which affect obesity and weight management.

We are holding a sharing of Scoffing on Wednesday 13th May 2009 at 3pm at The Friends Institute, Highgate. Please let us know if you would like to attend

Step by Step with May & June: Available for touring 29th June – 10th July 2009
Theme: Healthy Eating and Healthy Lifestyles
Target Audience: General community, Schools (Year 6, Secondary & parents’ groups)
Larger than life characters May & June tackle healthy eating in this interactive performance.  A great way to get people thinking and talking about the big question: why don’t we eat healthily when we know we should?

Bare Drama: Available for touring in Autumn 2009
Theme: Gang Prevention
Target Audience: Schools (Years 7 and 8 )
An exciting new play about how gangs form and gang prevention.   The programme encompasses a play and workshop where pupils have the chance to engage in-depth with the issues raised.

The Learning Curve: Available for touring in October 2009
Theme: Breast Health and Breast Awareness
Target Audience: Community Health Promotion, Health Professionals’ Training, Schools (Year 9 and up, Colleges)
This audience favourite is back for Breast Awareness Month 2009.  Covering a range of issues from body image to breastfeeding and screening, the play is ideal for health awareness and promotion.

If you have a burning issue you think we could help with, we are also available for new commissions and projects.  Each year we work with a range of partners to produce new pieces of theatre about issues that are important to them; recent partners include Leicester YMCA, Action for Inclusion, Scope, RoC Drama, Walsall tPCT, and Walsall Community Arts.

Downloads:
Health & Community Programme for 0910
Education Programme for 0910