Sarah played by Joanne McGarva, Wolf played by Stephen McCombe and Mum played by Miriam Buckeridge with pupils Christian Carr and Zack Gambrell

Students at a Lichfield school have been learning how to stay safe online.

Sarah played by Joanne McGarva, Wolf played by Stephen McCombe and Mum played by Miriam Buckeridge with pupils Christian Carr and Zack Gambrell
Sarah played by Joanne McGarva, Wolf played by Stephen McCombe and Mum played by Miriam Buckeridge with pupils Christian Carr and Zack Gambrell

A theatre performance at Maple Hayes Dyslexia School was used to raise awareness of ‘stranger danger’ on the internet.

The 45-minute performance of ESCape by Saltmine Theatre Company followed the story of an 11-year-old who lives on the edge of an enchanted forest, which she is allowed to enter for the first time on her own. She starts her adventure with the three rules from her mother that will keep her safe echoing in her ears – including not to give a stranger her full name, not to give out her address, not to go off the path, and also to call for help from an adult if she is scared. But when she meets a stranger, all is not what it seems and she struggles to keep to the rules.

Headteacher Dr Daryl Brown, said: “The children really enjoyed the performance and learnt a lot about being safer on the internet.

“It can be sometimes a challenge to show children about stranger danger in a modern age, but this was the perfect way to introduce our pupils to the rules of the internet and what to look out for.

“It was really good that quite a few of our parents also came into school to view the drama.”

Christian Carr, aged 9, said: “It was a really good play and we enjoyed having them here for the day.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.