Taking the first step and asking someone if they’re OK can take a bit of courage, especially for younger children. How do I ask it? What do I do if someone isn’t ok? What if a friend is really sad? These are just some of the questions that might be swirling around a child’s head. But learning how to overcome this uncertainty can have a profound effect, with children getting to share an emotional connection and learning how to navigate some of life's challenges.

Being Brave:

Brainstorm Productions performance Being Brave helps young children to understand that asking the question “Are you okay?” and taking the time to listen are only the first steps. While some situations and problems can be overcome by children talking to one another, more serious issues must be solved by involving an adult. Students are urged to help each other by seeking advice from a teacher, parent, school counsellor, a trusted adult or by phoning the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. Many children are embarrassed to say they are experiencing difficulties and Being Brave encourages children to learn how to talk about their problems and show their feelings in an appropriate way.

Brainstorm Productions 2016 tour launched yesterday, Wednesday 27th January, so we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at the hard work that goes into preparing for a year-long tour of ten different school theatre productions. 

The journey begins in early January and the first day of rehearsals is always positively electric. The team is brought together in a 100-year-old country hall near Byron Bay in NSW. The large space is used to introduce the team and for general horsing around to relieve any nerves. There’s dancing, singing, miming and lots of drama (of the acting kind of course!).

Brainstorm Productions performs to primary and high school students every day of the school year, including their anti violence school program ‘Sticks & Stones’. We talk to this year's Sticks & Stones team, Kieren and Michael, about how they get students talking about what is acceptable behaviour and what’s not, why they love their job and some expert tips on breaking into acting. 

Horrifying domestic violence statistics in Australia show that one in six women have experienced violence from a current or former partner, sixty three women have been killed by family violence this year and childhood exposure to partner violence increases the likelihood of intergenerational violence.

With the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently pledging $100 million to tackle domestic violence, including $5 million for school education programs, and with White Ribbon Day happening on 25th November, we talk to three inspiring high schools that are rewriting the script and helping students to develop respectful relationships using theatre-based education.

With the launch of ‘The Wellbeing Framework for Schools’ by the NSW Education & Communities Department in April 2015, more and more schools are developing initiatives that are aimed at empowering students to take better care of their wellbeing; as well as that of others. 

One school that’s had a long-running student wellbeing program is All Saints’ College Bathurst. Their successful approach is focused on teaching skills that students can use in their everyday life, not just about conveying information on what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ behaviour. One example of this is incorporating Brainstorm Productions anti-bullying and violence prevention program ‘Sticks & Stones’.