STUDENTS at Wirral Grammar School for Girls were given a special viewing of a new theatre production which explores issues faced by young women today.

Created by Wirral Council’s Youth Service ‘Me, My Selfie and I’ tackles gangs, peer pressure, media pressure and exploitation.

It also aims to encourage girls to think about the challenges of each and discuss their thoughts and feelings together during post-show workshops.

Using dance theatre and interactive audience participation, the performance seeks to break down the barriers of stereotypes and social struggles to uncover what it really means to be a young woman today.

The cast from the council’s Creative Youth Development team moved around the stage with the audience to depict a range of scenarios including the pressures women are under to adapt their appearance, and expectations for them to please others and demands to have a maternal, domestic role at home.

Head of PSHE at Wirral Grammar Esther Maple said: “The workshop really made the girls consider an issue that they had previously glanced over.

“The leaders were well qualified, confident and inspiring for our pupils; whose written responses showed clear progression of understanding for the issues.

"The dramatic style of the production will be remembered for the years to come.”

The performance and workshop is part of the council’s G.I.R.L.S self-development programme, which is designed for young women aged 13-19 and funded by Public Health.

The programme has been running for the last four years and has successfully reached hundreds of young women across the borough.

Other schools across Wirral are invited to host their own performance from September to register interest contact Donna Marie Morris: donnamorris@wirral.gov.uk