The Drama

Programme Outline

As part of their GCSE drama project, Daniel Ashton and his classmates have to prepare an improvisation for an audience of eleven-year-olds, warning them about the dangers of drugs. They also have to write a summary of the improvisation, explaining the intention behind the play and the problems they encountered during the production. We hear Danny dictating his notes to himself throughout the play.

He gets the idea for his GCSE improvisation on his way home from school one day when he catches sight of a junkie. But instead of making the story about someone like that, he decides to make it about someone just like himself and his friends. The next day, he discusses the idea with his classmates and gives out the parts, keeping the leading role for himself, much to their annoyance. Some of the other boys find it hard to concentrate on the rehearsals, and Danny gets frustrated about this.

He babysits for his sister, who is confident that he will do well in life. He tells her off for her smoking. He is a wonderful rôle model for his young nieces, who idolise him.

When he gets home, his mother is waiting for him. She shows her concern over the fact that he has chosen drugs as the theme of his improvisation. He tells her that people take drugs to escape from life, but that he intends to live life to the full.

When he gets to school the next day for the final examination performance, some members of the cast are missing and Danny has to sort out all the last-minute problems.

The performance begins. The title is Put Away the Drugs and Enjoy the Music. It is about a boy who is taunted into going to a rave. He refuses the drugs that are offered to him, but his drink is spiked. He then accepts some Speed. After dancing for a while, he collapses, but his pleas for help and water are ignored. He dies as a result.

We then learn that Danny Ashton himself died eight months after his play as a result of taking Ecstasy and Amphetamines.

Finally we see Danny running on the beach, where he meets his mum, sister and nieces. He is exuberant and optimistic. He got an 'A' for his GCSE drama. He also won the prize for the best drama student that year. He died on 18 September 1995 at the age of seventeen.