Write a commentTranslink has partnered with Replay Theatre Company through Arts & Business NI to create and develop an innovative new rail safety initiative “#CrossingtheLines”.
Working with local young people, the initiative will take strong messages about rail safety into the classroom with a focus on travelling safely and highlighting dangers of misuse, complacency and anti-social behaviour at specific locations across Northern Ireland.
The innovative programme will begin with a series of creative workshops for years 9,10 and 11 at selected schools, where the students will give feedback on their views of train travel, trespass and anti-social behaviour. This feedback will form the basis for a Replay Theatre Company production in Spring 2019, which the students will be invited to attend.
Hilton Parr, Head of Rail Customer Services said: “Trains remain one of the safest ways to travel and we want to promote this message when we engage with youth audiences; and stress that potential threats come from misuse of trains and railway property”.
“For example, something simple like being engrossed in a phone and not paying attention when getting on or off a train can have serious consequences”.
“We are aiming to target up to 5000 pupils over the coming months. This partnership with Replay is very exciting as it allows us to work with students in a positive, creative and engaging way. Working with young people to influence other youth audiences makes our campaign even more credible and will help us to encourage safe and responsible behaviour at stations and on board our trains and to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all our customers”.
Hilton concluded: “The “#CrossingtheLines” initiative will also feature heavily on social media and we look forward to further online interaction”.
Brian Mullan, CEO of Replay Theatre Company added: “We are delighted to be working with Translink on this important community safety initiative. Engaging young people through theatre and the arts means that the safety messages that Translink wish to deliver will be done so in a way that is appealing and interesting to them. Through carrying out workshops in selected schools with our creative team, we look forward to developing a new production with creative input of all of the young people we visit. This year marks 30 years of Replay creating theatre for children and young people and this initiative ensures that we can continue to involve our audiences in the creation of excellent new work.”
Mary Nagele, CEO Arts & Business NI said: “We were delighted to introduce Replay to Translink; with Replay’s experience of engaging young people, we knew that they were the best partner to deliver a creative youth engagement project focusing on key Translink rail safety messages. Over the last number of years, Translink have partnered with an array of arts organisations to successfully deliver effective partnerships that help them to implement their Translink SPIRIT CSR strategy and corporate objectives. Arts & Business NI are thrilled to support this new partnership between Translink and Replay through our Investment Programme, funded by the Arts Council of NI.”
Schools workshops will begin next month (May 2018) with the theatre production being delivered in Spring 2019.
