The HENs Theatre Company, founded in 2001, won a Philip Lawrence Award for outstanding work in the community in December 2003. At the time the three young women from Essex who created the theatre company were busy performing ‘I Don’t Know You!’ by Julie Sanger-Gowers.

The play, which they performed extensively in schools in Essex and accompanying workshops, raised awareness of stranger danger, including how to say no to strangers, internet issues and keeping a sensible balance between trust and caution.

Since their PLA win, founders Hannah Sanger-Gowers, Emily De Cosimo and Natalie Taylor have continued to produce high quality, original performances which tackle issues affecting young people and encourage the audience to interact with the material.

Current production
In June 2005 HENs received funding from Brentwood Council for a new project about domestic abuse called ‘Hitting Home’. This has been presented to Year 10 students at secondary schools across Essex. HENs worked closely with The Basildon Women’s Aid in order to sensitively and accurately represent and teach about domestic abuse.

HENs perform and present workshops to children and young people. ‘Detained’, a play which raises awareness of autism, toured further education colleges in Essex while ‘You’ve Got a Blue Face’ has been presented in primary schools aimed at 9 to 11 year olds. This play and follow-up workshop explored bullying and what students can do about it.

Continuing success has allowed HENs to expand. Actors, directors and technicians have joined the team to help deliver its projects, enabling children and young people to better understand the issues in their lives.

For more information about upcoming performances, email henstheatre@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07790 306 054.