A recent Peer Productions show

Youth arts training company Peer Productions have produced a feature film for secondary schools - The Homophobia Project. The film will be screened at The Drill Hall Theatre at 11.30am on Saturday February 6 as part of the Schools Out Conference.  
 
Wokingbased Peer Productions is a youth arts company who specialise in peer education through theatre and film.  Each year they train a team of talented young people (aged 16 – 24 years) as actors and peer educators enabling them to deliver a series of arts projects in the community.  The Homophobia Project began in 2007 when co-artistic director Nina Lemon and a small team of peer educators ran an empowering drama course for Surrey teenagers who identify and lesbian, gay or bisexual.
 
Ms Lemon said:
“The assumption is made that homophobia is a thing of the past and that with the end of Section 28 in 2003,  young LGBT people can live in a more permissive and tolerant society.  Sadly our experience showed us that this is not the case and many young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people still live in fear and experience abuse in our schools.”
 
Based on true accounts of homophobic bullying and oppression, Peer Productions created a play which toured to secondary schools. Last year the company began the process of adapting the play into a film.
 
The film tells the story of Janet and John, two heterosexuals growing up in a lesbian and gay world.  In total over 200 young people, including volunteers from a local secondary school, were involved in making the film which, together with a comprehensive teacher’s pack, is now available for secondary school teachers to use in lessons.
 
The film’s director Jason Orbaum said:
“This film can be a vital weapon in fighting homophobia in schools. It is made by young people, with young people, for young people and it’s high production values are a testimony to what can be achieved by this generation.  We hope that schools nationwide will buy the DVD and teacher’s pack and that we can help to make schools a safer place for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.”
 
For more information contact Claire on 01483 476825 or email: Claire@peerproductions.co.uk

For more information about Peer Productions visit:
www.peerproductions.co.uk