Eastern Front Theatre Presents: FallOUT
Presented by Bell Aliant

The play encourages its grade 6-9 audience to join the conversation about cyber-bullying. FallOUT is touring for four weeks and ending it's run with a public performance at the North Street Church.

FallOUT’s production team feel it’s impossible to not be aware of the growing sense of alarm in our society about cyber-bullying, it’s growth and its long-lasting effects. 

With attention on this issue at an all-time high, we have created a piece of theatre that is designed to reinforce the existing conversations that are being had in classrooms and in communities.

The theatre company has partnered with some organizations and corporate partners who are leading the way in combating this issue.

FallOUT was created with a Community Grant from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

“The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is proud to support FallOUT,” says Foundation President & CEO, Starr Dobson. “We strongly believe in the power of theatre as a tool for change. We look forward to seeing the positive impact FallOUT has on increasing mental health awareness and promoting cyber-safety among Nova Scotian youth.”

FallOUT will tour to thirty junior high schools, with a cast of three actors performing in gymnasiums, auditoriums and classrooms.  The play ends with the question: ‘what would you do?’

The theatre company has partnered by the Justice Department’s CyberScan team, who will facilitate a talkback session after each performance between the plays’ characters and the audience.

The CyberSCAN Unit is a division within the Department of Justice, under public safety, that aims to combat cyberbullying through education and awareness. The CyberSCAN unit offers presentations to schools across the province that educate students on cyberbullying and the detrimental impacts it may have on someone. Their presentation includes tips on how to protect yourself from cyberbullies and resources that can help if you are a victim of cyberbullying.

The CyberSCAN Unit was immediately interested when approached by the play Fallout to get involved as it is directly aligned with our mission to better educate students on cyberbullying and the harmful impact it has. 

“The play is a unique and engaging way to captivate our audience, students in Nova Scotia, and a great opportunity to collaborate,” says Roger Merrick, Director of Public Safety Division.

“We have a common goal to combat cyberbullying. By working together in a unique way, we can get into more classrooms and create a better understanding on this important issue and answer any questions students may have.”

“It’s so important to us that we have the facilitated conversation,” says the play’s producer, Webb. “We did not want to just show up in a school and do a play, stir up reaction and leave.”

Bell Aliant have come on board as a Presenting Sponsor and, as part of their work, introduced Webb to MediaSmarts.

MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital and media literacy, is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring the children and youth have the skills to engage with all media as active and informed digital citizens.

MediaSmarts’ material will be sent to schools in advance of the performance and contains information for teachers and students, including lesson plans and study guides.

"FALLOUT dramatizes for students how complicated online relationships can be, and helps them see the need to apply empathy and think ethically when using digital media," says Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. "We were glad to provide our resources to help continue the conversations this play raises and bring digital literacy learning into students' homes and classrooms."

Kids Help Phone are supporting the production. Kids Help Phone materials will be presented to students after each performance.

Since 1989, Kids Help Phone’s trained professional counsellors have been listening to kids, often when no one else can or will. Young people can reach out to Kids Help Phone via phone or live chat about any issue, one such issue being cyber-bullying.

FallOut is directed by Ann-Marie Kerr, produced by Jeremy Webb and is written by Cara MacPhail. The three actors are Sarah English, Amanda LeBlanc and Margaret Legere. Stage manager is Tessa Pekeles, with set design by Andrew Cull, Sound design by Brian Riley and costume design by Cathleen MacCormack.