Local Young People To Perform In Colchester's World AIDS Day Arts Festival, UK

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 6:00 PST

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On Monday 24 November, HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) will join forces with Colchester Borough Council and the Mercury Theatre to stage the town's twelfth annual World AIDS Day Arts Festival.

The Arts Festival, which begins at 7.30pm, will see eleven schools and theatre groups from the region take to the theatre's main stage for a series of dance, music and drama performances inspired by issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. Representatives from THT have visited all of the participating groups in advance to provide information and advice on ways they can portray these issues. Special guest for the evening will be Kat Kasisopa, Big Brother 9's cookie-loving housemate, who will meet the young people involved and introduce some of the performances.

World AIDS Day, which has been running every December since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness of the condition. In the UK alone, around 80,000 people are living with HIV and over 7,500 are diagnosed every year.

In the run up to World AIDS Day, THT is also calling for people in Colchester to get involved, either by volunteering for Terrence Higgins Trust, making a donation to support local HIV services, or wearing a red ribbon to raise awareness.

Victoria Gamble, from Terrence Higgins Trust in Colchester, said "We are thrilled that the Mercury Theatre will be holding this important event, and we are hoping for a full house on the night! HIV has been around for over 25 years and is now the UK's fastest growing long term health condition, which is why it is vital that we continue to educate young people on these issues. We very much hope that local people will get involved in some way, either by attending the Arts Festival, donating to the cause or just wearing a red ribbon to raise awareness."

Tickets for the Arts Festival, priced £2.50, are available from the Mercury Theatre Box Office on 01206 573948 or online at http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk.

Notes

1. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all.

2. The schools and theatre groups participating in the World AIDS Day Arts Festival are Theatre Fun, Clacton County High School, Colbayns School, Plume School, New Rickstones Academy, Philip Morant, St. Mary's, The Gilberd School, Sir Charles Lucas, The Harwich School and the Mercury Youth Theatre.

Terrence Higgins Trust