This year Tantrum Youth Arts will bring its play Opening Doors to Maitland High School in the company’s first visit to the city.

Through the use of theatre the arts group hopes to provide year 10 students with legal information around the issues of domestic violence and sexting.

“The play is about a young girl called Zoe who faces difficulties at home and at school,” producer Tamara Gazzard said.

“She experiences domestic violence at home and is also involved in sexting.

“These are two issues that young people frequently face.”

The play is performed by professional actors intertwined with a real life police officer and a solicitor.

The idea is to present common teenage issues to students and provide them with the information needed to overcome these situations.

Students can ask questions during the production and counselors and legal service providers are on hand for both during and after the show.

“These issues are common, I think they happen more than you realise,” Ms Gazzard said.

“We have had good feedback and at one of the shows we had a student say ‘it was good to see what I experience at home is not normal’.

“It is a very engaging format for them too.

“It is not like television where you can disengage if you want.”

The play was written by Ms Gazzard and was first rolled out to schools in 2014.

Students from eight schools in the Hunter have attended the production and according to feedback 91 per cent of the students had an increased understanding of domestic violence after the show.

While the at-school performances are already locked in for the year, schools can still book to attend the free performances at the Black Box Theatre at Newcastle Community Arts Centre.

The season has been extended thanks to a donation from the nib Foundation’s annual community grant program.

For more information contact Tantrum Youth Arts on 4929 7279 or email tamara@tantrum.org.au.