Celebrating how Smashed delivery partners bring inclusive, culturally relevant education to life and empower young people worldwide through understanding, representation, and respect.

When we started on our journey to deliver Smashed beyond the UK, we quickly learned that the greatest challenge in delivering one programme globally was, of course, the diversity of young learners, culturally and linguistically. Whilst the original Smashed story is universal in many ways, we knew it wouldn’t resonate when delivered in a top-down approach by ourselves.

Together, we are going on a journey to make Smashed ever more accessible to those who need to experience most. Everything must be considered – from technological accessibility of Smashed online to diverse casting for Smashed Live to ensure students see themselves in the characters. Another critical consideration early on was ensuring Smashed was accessible to students most in need – which is why every programme works in the public rather than private realm.

Of course, theatre has been a means of mass communication for centuries. Alcohol education shouldn’t be dependent upon literacy skills or technological access. Audiences shouldn’t be limited by travel, so Smashed goes to your school in your town. With these core attributes in our favour, we continue to develop approaches to reach ever more diverse communities.

Storytelling Without Borders: Delivering Smashed Sessions in Quechua in Peru

In Peru, students in rural Andean communities are engaging with Smashed in Quechua – one of the oldest living Indigenous languages in the Americas. This isn’t just about linguistic accessibility; it’s about cultural affirmation. By delivering the sessions in a language that carries ancestral weight, Smashed opens the door for young people to hear life-saving messages in a voice that feels familiar and dignified.

From Classroom to Community: Smashed in Africa

Across the African continent, Smashed teams are working hand in hand with local educators and artists to reflect the unique realities young people face. In Uganda, actors incorporate local slang and social norms into performances. In Kenya, workshops are tailored to resonate with rural and urban students alike. The result: a programme that’s not parachuted in but rooted in community. This hyper-local approach ensures the message lands with relevance, urgency, and hope.

Speaking from the Heart: A Smashed Session with an Interpreter in the Philippines

In the Philippines, a Smashed session brought together hundreds of students across multiple islands. With the help of a sign language interpreter, the session became a real-time dialogue full of emotion, clarity, and connection. Interpretation here wasn’t a technical step; it was a bridge to empathy. Students asked questions, laughed, and reflected deeply, showing that shared language fosters trust and retention.

Empathy in Every Language: Why Inclusivity Matters in Global Education Programs

Language is more than communication – it’s identity. When young people see their language and culture reflected in educational content, it signals respect. That respect invites engagement. By embedding local languages and cultural nuances into its sessions, Smashed makes sure students aren’t just passive listeners, but active participants. This kind of inclusive engagement isn’t a bonus feature – it’s essential to driving behavioural change.

Behind every Smashed performance is a team of passionate educators, actors, and facilitators who reflect the communities they serve. In Spain, young theatre performers bring raw authenticity to every scene. In Brazil, educators co-create sessions to address region-specific challenges. These local heroes don’t just deliver the message, they embody it. Their lived experience, cultural fluency, and deep connection to their audience make the difference between a lesson and a breakthrough.

Smashed storylines in each script are adapted to reflect local alcohol norms, peer pressure dynamics, and family relationships. In Taiwan, for instance, intergenerational respect is woven into the narrative. In Tanzania, students and actors unite in a team dance. These changes might seem minor but to the students watching, they mean everything. It tells them: this is your story too.

The commitment of Smashed to inclusivity and diversity isn’t confined to mission statements – it’s visible in every script adaptation, every interpreter’s voice, every rural classroom session. The programme’s reach spans continents, but its roots run deep in the communities it serves. With each performance, Smashed proves that inclusive education isn’t just possible – it’s powerful. Because when young people see themselves in the message, they’re far more likely to believe it.