Actors present program on bullying

The Taproot Theatre Company traveled from Seattle to perform for students at Naselle-Grays River Valley School Monday. The company travels to schools and churches all over the Pacific Northwest to teach students of all ages about respect and the power that words and actions can have on others.

The TTC was founded in 1976 by graduates of Seattle Pacific University and has become one of Seattle’s largest mid-size touring companies. Touring since 1985, the group performs for over 150,000 each year. The group will usually perform at two schools per day.

The group uses the Committee for Children’s “Steps to Respect” curriculum, which is a proven bullying prevention curriculum and very popular in the United States. The actors use vocabulary and scenarios integrated into performances and characters so students can find someone to relate to.

Bullying can be a broad topic, said performer Solomon Davis, so the topics deal with sustaining and maintaining friendships. It’s been found if this can happen at a younger age, then a big part of the problem is taken care of.

On Monday, students were treated to two performances about bullying and how what may be “just a joke” to some can create serious deep wounds for another. The play “New Girl,” performed for students in 6-12 grades, teaches students that bullying is no longer just a face to face issue, but it has also expanded to become a cyber issue.

Davis said the main message he hopes to present is that of taking personal responsibility. When a joke is made about another student, especially in the middle school age group, kids learn it is okay to make jokes, even if they hurt others.

“My message," he said, "would be to the majority of the students who are simply bystanders or witnesses is, ‘what would happen if you decided not to laugh? Or what if you decided not to gather around and watch someone getting beat up? What would happen if you decided not to spread the rumor along?’”

For more information about Taproot Theatre Company, visit http://www.taproottheater.org.