A GROUP of students from Warrington Collegiate were among young people from four Cheshire colleges who took part in “Fatal Distraction” – a moving and challenging performance at Crewe Lyceum Theatre.
The show was devised by the students, alongside the Manchester Camerata Orchestra and also featured cameo appearances by firefighters and the Cheshire Fire Service Choir.
“Fatal Distraction” was the third collaboration between the orchestra and Cheshire Fire Service and was all about educating young drivers about the dangers that exist on the roads.
It explored the causes and consequences of road traffic collisions.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin said: “The event was a great success and it was wonderful to see how the young people had worked so hard to create a brilliant performance and a truly special event.
“It has been a real privilege to once again work in partnership with the Manchester Camerata to create yet another impressive performance.
“It is a terribly stark statistic that the single biggest cause of accidental deaths in young people remains the road traffic accident.
“A major contributor to this is people being distracted at the wheel. All the young people involved in the piece were at that age where they had either just passed their driving test or are taking lessons. Therefore, we really hope that the messages they have explored in the creation of the piece stay with them and ultimately keep them and their friends safe.”
Firefighters from Warrington, Widnes and Chester also gave presentations on road safety to the students to help inform the piece they created.
Funding for the project was provided by Cheshire Fire Authority, the Philip Barker Charity and Arts Council England.
Sir Edmund Burton of the Philip Barker Charity said: “On behalf of the Philip Barker Trustees I would like to congratulate Manchester Camerata, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the colleges for their commitment to this inspiring partnership. These innovative projects encourage joint planning and a high degree of co-operation between all the partners. The creative and enthusiastic style of working of the Camerata team provided a unique and compelling educational experience for the participants and an enduring message for their appreciative audience.”
Traffic collisions are the single biggest cause of accidental death of young people aged 15-24. In the past five years 504 people aged between 17 and 24 have been killed or seriously injured on Cheshire roads.
Dramatic scenes from the challenging performance
