International Rock Challenge event makes a triumphant return to Inverness

Issued by Police Scotland

This is the fourth year that the Inverness area and Eden Court have staged the Rock Challenge® event which provides young people with an opportunity to experience the buzz of the performing arts and give them a ‘substance free high' from performing in a professional venue.

Rock Challenge® is supported by Safer Highland Partnership Group, a multi-agency partnership whose remit includes promoting community safety.

The event aims to capture the imagination of young people by providing them with an exciting and unique opportunity to experience the buzz of performing in a professional venue in front of their peers, families and friends.

This year the Rock Challenge® reaches out across the world to reach young people in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Dubai, Japan, Europe, and the UK.

The focus is on bringing young people together to have fun and be the best they can be without the need for tobacco, alcohol and other substances.

Be Your Best Foundation UK Manager Stuart McGregor said: "We are delighted with the way the Rock Challenge has grown in Inverness. It is now one of the most exciting events in our calendar and one that everybody looks forward to being involved in. We are thrilled to once again be working with Police Scotland and their partners to promote the event. I cannot wait to see the audience reaction when they see the quality of the show created by these local young people.”

Each school forms a team of 11 to 18 year olds to choreograph dance and drama performances which last between five and eight minutes and tell a story of a theme of their choice set to commercially available music. The team will be made up of between 20 to 100 performers as well as a backstage crew including up to 24 stage crew members.

One particular element of Rock Challenge that is growing every day is the very strong presence across social media.

On our Facebook page and group we have over 20,000 regular users who regular contact and interact with one another and our supporters through the pages

Our Twitter handle @ukrockchallenge is followed by nearly 6000 people who again pay close attention to the page and the updates that come in. We work very closely with meda agencies and sponsors to cross promote ideas and programmes.

This year's participating schools are:

  • Alness Academy, Alness, Ross Shire, Highland
  • Charleston Academy, Inverness, Inverness-shire
  • Dingwall Academy, Dingwall, Ross Shire
  • Inverness High School
  • Kingussie High School, Kingussie, Badenoch and Strathspey, Inverness-shire
  • Thurso High School, Thurso, Caithness
  • Wick High School, Wick, Caithness
  • J Rock™ Schools
  • Cauldeen Primary School, Inverness, Inverness-shire
  • Kingussie Primary School, Kingussie, Inverness-shire
  • Pennyland Primary School, Thurso, Caithness
  • Smithton Primary School, Smithton, Inverness-shire.

Speaking on behalf of Police Scotland Highland and Island's Divisional Coordination Unit, who cover Preventions and Interventions elements of community safety, Sergeant Mel Fowler said: "On behalf of all Safer Highland partners, we are delighted to welcome the Be Your Best Foundation back to Inverness for the Highland Rock Challenge show at Eden Court Theatre.

"We are committed to crime prevention and this initiative gives young people a focus to show the many other ways they can enjoy themselves, without engaging in criminal or harmful acts.

"We believe that the event fulfils a number of important functions, including the provision of valuable education to our children and an exciting platform for them to showcase their talents, thereby helping them realise their potential.”

Whether you have been involved before or seen previous coverage, the 2014 tour will be amongst the events biggest ever. We are opening up the event throughout the day for the first and allowing media partner's access to the Rock Challenge during the day including interviews with participants, rehearsal footage as well offering the opportunity to be a part of production meetings which are the peak of visual spectacles. If you are interested in taking part in the event details of the UK Manager Stuart McGregor are below.

More than 380 schools throughout the United Kingdom took part in last year's UK Rock Challenge competition involving upwards of 25,000 young people. It is the fastest growing event of its type in the UK, with teams required to stage an eight minute themed dance routine ultimately performing on stage in front of live audiences and a team of qualified judges.

Teams are marked and the winners move on to perform against others at regional finals with the National Final involving a gruelling competition against other teams from all over Britain.

Star of the St Trinian's films and global smash Inception Talulah Riley, Patron of the Be Your Best Foundation said "Congratulations to everyone who took part in the 2013 Be Your Best Foundation Rock Challenge.

"The finals were fantastic to watch. The performances were exciting, technically advanced and had wonderful themes. It was a great event, and I particularly enjoyed meeting with and talking to some of the performers. Well done to everyone involved and I can't wait for 2014.

Although the event originated in Australia The Rock Challenge® tour in the UK is now the biggest in the world. The organisation is currently staging 47 events across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, involving 25,000 young people aged 7-18 from 380 schools and colleges.

Tickets are available from the Eden Court Theatre Box Office for the event on Friday, which starts at 18:30 hours.

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26 Feb 2014