50 Days: Alone Together
Teachers' Pack
50 Days: Alone Together 50 Days: Alone Together is a 6 part improvised mini-series from Peer Productions. Recorded entirely using Zoom during the first lockdown, It tells the story of 10 teens and their first 50 days in lockdown. It is designed to support young people’s mental health and is an ideal addition to your PSHE curriculum allowing your students to explore and discuss a range of issues that affect young people both during the pandemic and beyond. Each episode consists of the whole class zoom call and several additional scenes exploring the relationships between different class members. Each interactive episode is embedded on the Peer Website here. Using innovative software from stornaway, at the end of every scene young people are given a choice of buttons which to navigate the drama. There are also links to lots of websites that offer help and support as well as some top tips videos on specific topics. Young people can also access the whole series on youtube and there is an Instagram account to support the project.
Peer Productions Peer Productions’ vision is to use theatre to genuinely change young people’s lives. Founded in 2006, by playwright and Artistic Director Nina Lemon, Peer Productions is an award winning youth arts charity specialising in combining high quality arts practice with peer education. Each year we reach 15,000 young people across the South East of England, enabling them to change the way they think and to make positive life choices. Our work is made with, by and for young people and focuses on three interlinked strands of Identity, Crime Prevention and Health. We have developed a unique approach whereby young people are at the centre of every stage of the creative process. We use peer education and theatre to empower three separate groups of beneficiaries: young peer educators, disadvantaged project participants and young audience members. All the actors in 50 Days: Alone Together were trainees on our free Actor Development Programme.
Content Warning 50 Days: Alone Together tackles many of the mental health issues that affect young people. Below is a list of the topics explored in the drama. Episode 3 is particularly hard hitting as it tackles the emotional impact of bereavement. There is a warning at the start of that episode. Further resources are signposted on our website here and form an integral part of the initeractive videos.
ALCOHOL ANGER BEREAVEMENT CARERS DOMESTIC ABUSE EATING DISORDERS FRIENDSHIPS GENDER LGBT+ OCD RELATIONSHIPS SELF ESTEEM SEXTING
Episode 1 It's Day 1 of lockdown and the class have their first zoom call. As they talk about their own individual challenges, tensions are bubbling under the surface. Two additional scenes show what happened last night: Matt is pressuring girlfriend Tegan to break lockdown and meet up with him. Hattie is supporting her friend Summer to manage her eating. Plus Lillly interviews Syed for the year book.
Points for Discussion Based on the first zoom call; With which characters do you most identify? Who would you most want to be friends with? Who are you most concerned about? Based on Matt & Tegan's scene: What do you think of their relationship? Why do you think Matt is so angry? What do you think Tegan should do next? Based on Hattie and Summer's scene: Why do you think Summer chooses to talk to Hattie about food? If you were Summer's friend how would you support her? What do you think Hattie should do next?
Episode 2 It's day 8 of lockdown and the class are settling into their new normal. Alex is tired, Summer's gone vegan, Syed is worried about his dad and Lilly has broken her pen. Three additional scenes show what has happened in the last week. Alex is struggling to care for their younger Autistic brother. Jacob apologises to them after misgendering them last week and offers some friendly support. Syed is unimpressed when Tegan confesses that she broke lockdown to meet up with Matt. Lilly and Amelie's friendship is strained. Plus Lilly interviews Summer for the yearbook.
Points for Discussion Based on the class zoom call; Have your opinions on any of the characters changed? What strategies are the class mates using to look after their mental health during lockdown? Is it working? Based on the three additional scenes; Which friendship do you think is the healthiest? Which friendship do you think will be the most difficult to sustain during lockdown? Why? Based on the Tegan and Syed scene; Why do you think Tegan broke lockdown? Do you think Syed could have handled the situation differently?
Episode 3 CW: This episode looks at death and grieving during the Covid-19 pandemic. IIt's after the Easter holidays and Day 28 of lockdown. Sarah shares the shocking news with the class that Syed's father has died. Two additional scenes show what has happened in the last week. Tegan breaks the news to Amelie about Syed's Dad. Hattie confides in Val telling Val that her Mum is unwell and might have the virus. Hattie doesn't know whether to start talking to her mum again.
Points for Discussion Based on the class zoom call; How do you think the class can best support Syed during this time? Based on the Amelie and Tegan scene; What do you think Tegan and Amelie, as Syed's close friends, should do? Based on the zoom call and the scene between Val and Hattie; Do you think Hattie will change her mind about her Mum after hearing the news about Syed's Dad? What could Hattie do to protect her own mental health during this challenging time?
Episode 4 It's day 36 of lockdown. Syed is taking time out to be with his family. Val and Matt are talking late into the night. Jacob's come out to his parents and there's a lot of shouting at Amelie's house. An additional scene shows us what happened in the last week. Whilst Syed turns to his Muslim faith for comfort, his classmates leave him messages of support. Tegan is overcome with anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Plus Lilly interviews Hattie for the year book.
Points for Discussion Based on the class zoom call; If this was your class whose well-being would you be most concerned about? Why? How do you think Jacob felt before he came out to his family? And after? Based on the Syed's Prayer scene; What do you think is going on with Tegan? If Tegan was your friend how would you support her?
Episode 5 It's day 43 of lockdown and Syed is back with the class. Sarah asks the class to think about what they are grateful for. Tensions are running high and Val is acting very out of character. She upsets Alex by suggesting that they have dyed their hair to look like a girl. Two additional scenes show us what has been happened in the last week. Amelie tells Lilly that she wants space in their friendship before more shouting at home causes her to abruptly end the call. Val and Matt talk later into the night whilst Val gets increasingly drunk. By the end of the call he convinces Val to send him a nude. Plus we see what Hattie says to Sarah after the call. She reaches out for advice on how to help Summer.
Points for Discussion Based on the zoom call and previous episodes; How do you think Alex feels when Val says those things to them? Based on the zoom call and the call between Val and Matt; How do you think Val's behaviour is impacted by her drinking? Why do you think Val is drinking so much? If you were Val's friend how would you try to support her? Based on the scene between Amelie and Lilly; What do you think is happening for Amelie? What could Lilly do to support her friend?
Episode 6 It's day 50 of lockdown and the class play a prank on Sarah. Whilst Sarah's out of the call, Syed realises that Matt has posted a nude of Valentine in a football group chat the boys in the group are all in. The class challenge him and an argument breaks out. Two additional scenes show what has happened in the last week. Summer confronts Hattie about breaking her confidence and talking to Sarah and Hattie makes a surprise confession. Lilly reaches out to Syed. Plus we see what happened next with Val's friends trying to support her.
Points for Discussion Based on the zoom call; Why do you think Matt posted Val's pic? Why is Matt so angry? Based on the scene between Summer and Hattie; How do you think Summer should react to Hattie's revelation? How might it impact their friendship? Based on the scene between Val and her friends; Do you think the group handled the situation well? Would you have done things differently?
Meet the Class - Tegan (she/her)
Tegan struggles with her confidence and self esteem. She's been arguing with her mum a lot lately mainly about her boyfriend Matt.
Meet the Class - Lilly (she/her)
Lilly loves to be busy so being in lockdown is hard for her and pushes some of her friendships to breaking point.
Meet the Class - Valentine (she/her)
Valentine's family are shielding as her mum has brittle asthma. As lockdown continues Val struggles with being isolated from her friends.
Meet the Class - Summer (she/her)
Summer's spending a lot of time alone and online in lockdown as her mum is a key worker. Luckily she has best friend Hattie to keep an eye on her.
Meet the Class - Matt (he/him)
Matt thinks everyone is over reacting and is frustrated that he can't see his girlfriend Tegan. He's also missing going to the gym and chicken nuggets.
Meet the Class - Alex (they/them)
Alex is having a tough time in lockdown as they are helping to look after their Autistic brother. Best mate Jacob is always there to keep them laughing.
Meet the Class - Syed (he/him)
Honest and loyal, Syed always speaks his mind and stands up for what he believes in. His Dad is a paramedic so he knows first hand the impact of the virus.
Meet the Class - Hattie (she/her)
Hattie moved in with her Aunt's family two years ago after her mum could not cope anymore. Wise beyond her years, she is always looking out for her friends.
Meet the Class - Jacob (he/him)
Jacob's missing his boyfriend Ben during lockdown but is distracting himself educating younger sister Rosie one Pixar movie at a time. He's always the first to make everyone laugh.
Meet the Class - Amelie (she/her)
During lockdown Amelie's family's cafe is struggling to stay afloat and her parents are arguing a lot. Lilly's need for attention is testing her patience.
Meet the Class - Sarah (she/her)
Form tutor Sarah is trying to get used to this new way of interacting with her class. Technology is not always her friend. At home she is learning to live with her grown up daughter again.
Frequently Asked Questions WHO IS 50 DAYS: ALONE TOGETHER FOR? It has been designed for young people in year 9+. HOW MUCH DOES THIS RESOURCE COST? This resource is available FREE for young people and schools to use. WHO MAKES 50 DAYS: ALONE TOGETHER? This drama has been made by youth arts charity Peer Productions. WHO ARE THE YOUNG ACTORS & HOW OLD ARE THEY? You can find out more about the cast and creative team here. They are all actors training on Peer Productions’ Actor Development Programme. They are aged between 18 and 20. DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL SOFTWARE TO ACCESS THE 50 DAYS INTERACTIVE VIDEOS. No. The videos will play directly from the Peer Productions website. HOW LONG DOES EACH EPISODE LAST? The length will depend on how much time each young person spends looking at the websites and different resources available. Each episode starts with the class zoom call. These scenes are around 8-10 minutes. Each episode has several scenes between smaller groups and these usually last collectively no more than 15 mins. Explainer videos are usually around 2 minutes in length. This means that it is possible to explore an episode in a 30 - 60 minute lesson. If students want to revisit an episode there are navigation buttons to allow them to pick up where they left off.
Frequently Asked Questions WHAT TOPICS ARE EXPLORED IN 50 DAYS: ALONE TOGETHER? A full list of mental health topics explored can be found here. As a quick guide: Episode 1 - Anger, Relationships & Eating Disorders Episode 2 - Self Esteem, Gender and Friendships Episode 3 - Bereavement & OCD Episode 4 - Alcohol, Bereavement & OCD Episode 5 - Alcohol, Sexting, Domestic Abuse Episode 6 - LGBT+, Alcohol. HOW WERE THE SELF CARE TIPS VIDEOS CREATED? These videos were created with support from a mental health professional and in consultation with young people with direct experience of these issues. IS THERE ANY SWEARING IN 50 DAYS:ALONE TOGETHER? Very occasionally characters swear. All swearing has been bleeped out.
S THERE ANY SWEARING IN 50 DAYS:ALONE TOGETHER?
Links Peer Productions - www.peerproductions.co.uk
Support Childline - www.childline.org.uk Youngminds - https://youngminds.org.uk/ Mind - www.mind.org.uk/
Links ALCOHOL Teen drinking - The Mix Alcoholic parents - NACOA ANGER Young Minds - https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-andsymptoms/anger/ BEREAVEMENT Supporting a friend - CRUSE www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/about-grief/how-to-help-someonebereaved Coping with bereavement - Hope Again (CRUSE) www.hopeagain.org.uk CARERS In Surrey - www.actionforcarers.org.uk Nationwide - https://carers.org DOMESTIC ABUSE AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS The Hideout - https://thehideout.org.uk Love Respect (Women's Aid) - www.loverespect.co.uk EATING DISORDERS Beat - www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk GENDER Gendered intelligence - http://genderedintelligence.co.uk LGBT+ Young Stonewall - www.youngstonewall.org.uk OCD OCD Action - www.ocdaction.org.uk SEXTING Childnet - www.childnet.com/young-people/secondary/nudes
Links Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the best quality information, advice and guidance is provided, producers of 50 Days: Alone Together, Peer Productions are not responsible for the content of external websites. This is because: Peer Productions does not produce them or maintain/update them. Peer Productions cannot change them. They can be changed without the Peer Productions' knowledge or agreement. Some of our external links may be to websites which also offer commercial services, such as online purchases.The inclusion of a link to an external website from 50days.com should not be understood to be an endorsement of that website or the site's owners (or their products/services).
Cast and Creative Team
Ifran Ahmed Syed
Natalia Gruca Lilly
Adelaide Barden Charley Branson - Tegan - Alex
Daniel Heath Jacob
Aidan Jowers Matt
Georgia Holder - Summer
Lana Lei Amelie
Deven Clay Hattie
Esme Jennings - Valentine
Suzanne Parke - Sarah
Direction and story by Nina Lemon in collaboration with the cast. Improvisation consultation by Lucy Fennell Edited by Chuck Blue Lowry Music by Daniel Heath Social media production by Anna Bosworth Woolf Design by Rebecca Petts Davies Mental health consultation by Be Cortade Mental health support videos presented by Kudzai Sitima, Bobbie Twaddle & Rosie Horler.
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