Smokefree issues played out on Liverpool stage

Forget Pop Idol - it's Ciggie Idol, when a new play gets its premiere, in Liverpool this week.

Speke Youth Theatre group will be staging 'Ciggie Idol' for the first time, this Friday (9) at the launch of D-MYST - the SmokeFree Liverpool youth group.

The short, play, based in Speke, is made up of stills of the youth group with an animated background and voice overs telling the history of smoking over the past 500 years.

The event launches the D*MYST group who are working with SmokeFree Liverpool to push for 100% smokefree legislation in the city and will give people the opportunity to hear first hand the aims of the group.

The launch is being held at the 08 Place on Whitechapel and will begin at 5.30pm with refreshments and food being served.

Gina McDaid, D*MYST Project Co- ordinator said: "We are very excited to be introducing our youth group to Liverpool and having a local play to put across smoking issues in a different medium is great",

Carl Cochran, Youth Theatre Co- ordinator for Arts in Regeneration Speke said: "The project gave the group an excellent opportunity to devise and produce something poignant, useful and worthwhile that compliments the work of Liverpool Smoke Free".

Ends

For further information please contact Eilidh Robertson at Kenyon Fraser on 0151 706 9984

NOTES TO EDITOR

1. Launch Event:
Date: Friday 9th December 2005

Time: 5.30pm

Place: 08 Place, Whitechapel, Liverpool

2. D-MYST:Direct Movement by the Youth SmokeFree Team
D-MYST is a youth initiative supported by SmokeFree Liverpool that will give young people an opportunity to voice their opinions on tobacco and influence the smoke free agenda on both a local and national level, based on the Reality Check model from New York and the ABCD approach
D-MYST is run by and for young people in Liverpool and has three keys goals

• Raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco- Youth health promotion and training programmes will be delivered in the areas of tobacco control,advocacy and media, so that young people can inform their peers about the dangers of tobacco and sure to secondhand smoke.
• Advocate for SmokeFree work environments for everyone - campaign for 100% restrictions on smoking and work with young people across the city to develop Smokefree initiatives relevant to their environment and experiences
• Speak out against manipulation and targeting tactics of tobacco industry- Expose the deceptive marketing practices of the tobacco industry and lobby the film and media industry around inclusion of tobacco in their story lines, via our YOU Are A Target Campaign and SmokeFree Movies Project.