A DUDLEY drama group, consisting of fostered youngsters, has launched a new production aimed at dispelling myths about being in care.

ChatBack Productions have produced an interactive theatre piece called 'The Child in the Equation' which is based on domestic abuse in foster care.

The company were able to put on the performance after receiving funding from West Midlands Police Authority and Dudley Primary Care Trust.

The entire show was written by the youngsters involved in the production, who are all aged between 11 and 18-years-old and looks at the impact of domestic abuse on young people - who are often forgotten in domestic abuse cases.

Their aim was to help other young people in the 'looked after system' to have a voice. The youngsters spent five months developing and devising the play and recently performed it in front of a packed audience.

Brockmoor and Pensnett councillor, Judy Foster, who represented the Police Authority at the event, said: "It was a very moving and powerful performance delivered by some courageous young people. For me, it is the start, and not the end, of addressing issues around domestic violence and the impact it has on young people in their homes."

The group won the Philip Lawrence Award last year for an earlier DVD project called ‘Fostering Reality’ which covered the issues of bullying, homophobia, emotional and behavioural difficulties and the misconceptions of fostering. But also explored the fun side of fostering as well.