A group of actors visited Churchill Community High School in La Ronge yesterday to present a message on violence against women.

“Far From The Heart” is an interactive play and online film promoting safe dating for young women and men.

Actor Warren Bain is part of the troupe and says the goal is to get youth discussing a difficult topic:

“To begin the conversation about rape, about sexual assault, about dating violence in a way that’s safe — a ‘rehearsal for reality’ is the term we like to use — and to try out their ideas in order to see if they can make it a more positive situation, and then the students have an opportunity to come up and change the circumstances for the better.”

Actor Errol Kinistino says advance work is done in each school to make sure the students know what to expect.

Kinistino says the interactive plays are followed by classroom discussions and, if needed, work by professional counsellors.

The group is now heading to Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Ile a la Crosse, the Buffalo River Dene Nation and La Loche before returning to southern Saskatchewan.