LOCAL TREATMENT CENTRE SPONSORS INTERACTIVE PLAY

Crossroads Treatment Centre is sponsoring the travelling production
of METH, a play its producers call interactive forum theatre.

"The intention is to get the audience involved and to look at
solutions around addiction," said Corinne Dolman, executive director
of Crossroads, which operates a residential treatment facility, a
detox centre and supportive housing at its location in Rutland.

Dolman says people who take in the production will actually get to
see it twice.

"What they do is present the play with actors and then they do it
again with a facilitator," she said. "The second time, the audience
is invited to participate and insert themselves in the play when they
see a situation and how it could be resolved differently."

However Dolman and the show's own promotional literature suggest the
issue goes beyond crystal meth to the root causes of addiction."The
play uses meth as the drug they're discussing but you could apply
this to any drug," said Dolman, who added that Crossroads hasn't seen
a big increase in clients who report crystal meth as their problem.
"We're seeing a slight increase but nothing substantial. We're
sponsoring this as a great opportunity to get the community involved
in dealing with the issue of addiction."

METH is produced by Headlines Theatre company and directed by David
Diamond. Its promotional material says the show is created and
performed by people who have struggled with methamphetamine addiction.

Previously, the company has run similar interactive productions
dealing with gangs, school violence and bullying.

It has already run in the fall in the Lower Mainland to great
reviews, Dolman said, and is embarking on a tour of the Interior that
began on Tuesday. METH runs tomorrow night at the Mary Irwin Theatre
in the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Tickets for the show are $10 at
the door or through Ticketmaster.

Dolman says Crossroads has paid $1,000 to bring the Headlines Theatre
company to Kelowna. "Any profit through ticket sales we split with
them," she said. "We're hoping to break even but if we don't it's not
a huge investment and it's well worth the price."

For more information, contact Crossroads Treatment Centre at 860-4001.