Filmed West End play Cookies is released online for free during Anti-Bullying Week 2017

Emily Jenkins’s play, Cookies, which deals with the effects of sexting, radicalisation and cyber bulling and played at the Theatre Royal Haymarket at the end of October, is being made available to watch online throughout Anti-Bullying Week 2017 (week commencing 13^th November). The film of the live performance will be available along with teaching resources that include theatre-based, written and creative activities that align with the National Curriculum, along with professional advice from Kidscape, a charity established in 1985 to protect children from bullying and sexual abuse.

This new play by the Fringe First award-winning writer, which was directed by Olivier Award nominee Anna Ledwich, was commissioned by the Cyberscene Project, a theatre initiative that supports the health and well-being of young people affected by cyber bullying and other online issues. Partners Masterclass – an organisation that supports and nurtures young people through theatre and creative opportunities – and Kidscape spent over a year working with 120 16- to 19-year-old students across four London colleges through a series of workshops, exploring the threats and concerns that affect young people when they are online. 

Bruno Wang, founder of the Pureland Foundation, which funded the project, said: “This innovative initiative from Masterclass mirrors Pureland Foundation’s commitment to promote social and emotional wellness, in particular working with the creative arts to engage and inform audiences. Cyberbullying is an issue affecting not only children and teenagers but also adults. It is very rewarding for all involved that teachers across the country will be able to use Cookies in their classrooms to stimulate dialogue with students on this key issue of our time.”

The real-life stories that inspired the play can be used to engage young audiences and create greater awareness of the problems of living in a digital world. The lyrical and cleverly emoji-laden script brings together seven individuals who are suffering from cyber bullying or are affected by sexting or revenge porn. The piece was performed by an ensemble cast of young actors who gave their voices to true accounts and experiences.

The filmed version of the production and the free resources that accompany it are released today as part of the Anti-Bullying Week campaign to support students and their teachers, and to acknowledge the extent and effects of cyber bullying in particular. The video will be freely available online until November 2018 as Masterclass continues to work with schools and colleges to ensure that this theatrical resource can reach young audiences across the UK.

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Photos: Pamela Raith Photography

For further information, to watch the film or download the teaching resources visit the Masterclass website here.

For further information about Kidscape visit the charity’s website here.

For further information about Pureland Foundation visit the website here.