‘Sexwise’ returns to town

Sexwise performer facilitators (back, from left) Jeremy Hunt, Jaackie Black , Shay McKendrick,...
Sexwise performer facilitators (back, from left) Jeremy Hunt, Jaackie Black , Shay McKendrick, Hakaia Daly and (front from left) Dan Cockerill, Nomuna Amarbat, Talia-Rae Mavaega and Jake Arona-Tupua create a safe space for rangatahi to have transformational conversations. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
A free public performance of The Theatre in Health Education Trust (Theta) show Sexwise tomorrow at the Dunedin Centre will be a chance for the local community to see how performers use humour and drama to discuss sexual health.

The show is the culmination of a busy period for the theatre group.

Manager Eleanor Riley said the Sexwise teams had successfully finished their national tour and were now back in the South to complete Southland and Otago dates that had to be postponed due to the impact of Covid-19.

The Dunedin-based organisation has been running for more than 30 years, delivering health promotion messages to schools across the country.

The Theatre in Health Education Trust (Theta) manager Eleanor Riley. PHOTO: SIMON HENDERSON
The Theatre in Health Education Trust (Theta) manager Eleanor Riley. PHOTO: SIMON HENDERSON
Utilising applied theatre, Sexwise creates a safe space for rangatahi (young people) to have transformational conversations.

As well as connecting with young people through songs, humour and drama, each performance also has a workshop component where pupils can explore and reflect on sexual health and wellbeing.

This year the group had been shifting away from from the biomedical side of sexual health and moving more to exploring relationships and interactions between people, she said.

"The issues that people are facing in their personal journeys into their sexuality."

"We also look at issues around porn and online safety."

Another key topic at present was "love bombing" which was when young people had a crush on somebody.

"And they just bombard them with text messages like ‘hey, what are you doing’, ‘hey I want to see you’, ‘hey why are you not answering me’."

The free show is for everyone aged 13 and up.

"It is a chance for parents to come as well."

Sexwise Returns! Free Community Performance runs from 6-8pm at The Dunedin Centre on May 27. Visit eventfinda.co.nz to book.

 


SIMON.HENDERSON@thestar.co.nz

 

 

Add a Comment