A play for young people tackling homophobic bullying in schools

FIT by Rikki Beadle-Blair toured nationally to critical acclaim in 2007. The Drill Hall is offering schools another opportunity to see the production in autumn 2008.

FIT is a bold play about attempting to fit in and trying to stand out in a culture where everything from not liking sport to wearing the wrong trainers is 'gay'.

Tegs and Jordan are best friends, an odd couple at the centre of everyone's gossip. Ryan and Isaac are preoccupied with who's gay and what's 'gay' - and it certainly ain't them. Lee and Carmel are feisty girls with a few secrets of their own.

FIT is written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, whose many credits include the film and stage versions of Stonewall, Channel 4's Metrosexuality, and Bashment and Familyman at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

FIT has been developed to tackle the growing problem of homophobic bullying in Britain's schools. This touring play has been especially created for Key Stage 3 students (Year 7-9), and specifically complements various learning objectives from the National Curriculum, particularly PHSE and Citizenship.

Homophobic bullying is almost endemic in Britain's schools:

• Almost two thirds (65%) of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. Even if gay pupils are not directly experiencing bullying, they are learning in an environment where homophobic language and comments are commonplace.
• Seven out of 10 of these young people say that bullying affects their schoolwork and half have skipped school to avoid the bullying.
• Over half of lesbian and gay pupils don't feel able to be themselves at school. 35% of gay pupils do not feel safe or accepted at school.
• The impact of homophobic bullying is not limited to lesbian, gay and bisexual young people. It can affect anyone singled out as different.
• Less than a quarter (23%) of young gay people have been told that homophobic bullying is wrong in their school.
• In schools that have said explicitly that homophobic bullying is wrong, gay people are 60% more likely not to have been bullied.

(Source: The School Report, Stonewall, 2007)

Snappy dialogue and pacy writing more akin to Channel 4's Skins than your average theatre-in-education show combine with energetic hip-hop dance, original music and sparky comedy to make FIT a show that stands out from the rest.

The play is accompanied by a workshop and a talk with the audience, led by Rikki Beadle-Blair himself, which will allow the themes and stories presented in the play to be discussed and explored in a practical and interactive manner. There is also a full teachers' resource pack (PDF) to support further exploration of the issues raised in PHSE and drama lessons.

Please contact us if you would like more information about or to comment on the play.

Produced by

Original production produced by

Original production commissioned by
queerupnorth | Stonewall | The Drill Hall | Homotopia

2007 photos: Jonathan Keenan