Pre-loading, peer pressure, driving while distracted, can you really handle your drink?

‘Too Much Punch For Judy’ by Mark Wheeller

May 20th 1983… a lonely road… a car comes off the road and hits a bridge. The scaffolding construction slices through the car. The driver, Judy, escapes unhurt, but the passenger, her sister, Joanna is killed outright. Joanna and Judy were on their way home from an aerobics session followed by a trip to the local Bar. They had both been drinking.

This tragic incident is dramatised using only the words of those most closely involved and affected. Since its publication it has become one of the most performed plays ever. Although the original incident was set in Essex in 1983, the impact of this piece has not been dampened with age. It is a poignant and evolving story, that no matter the timeline, holds truth in the words of different people and their experiences with drink driving.

"An effective work of theatre, it will stay with me for a long time." - Jess Young - Refuge Caseworker and Facilitator

Young people are greatly at risk for making wrong decisions when they start driving unsupervised. They have a one out of ten chance of being involved in a crash at this age. This play may help each person watching, to gain the skillset to handle it. - Daniel Naudé - Road Safety Coordinator for South Canterbury

Seeing this play made me think more deeply about drink driving than a standard talk about it ever did... It highlights the harsh reality in terms of the emotional toll and trauma drink driving causes. - Charlotte - Craighead Diocesan School

"I personally think all high school ages should be watching this, a lot have older siblings learning to drive and making decisions around alcohol... The message was loud and clear, "Don't get in a car and drive after any drink!" - Jane Bowen - Restaurant owner/operator

“The show was very worthwhile. It deals with a serious issue in an entertaining and thought-provoking way, giving the audience plenty of opportunities to make their own mental connections to behaviours that they may have observed or experienced in some ways themselves. ..." - Tina Johnson Temuka (Principal) Opihi College

Contact the host of Too Much Punch For Judy - Timaru