Changing the world, One Play at a Time

Mum and I went to a Macmillan Coffee morning in the village at the Prests' house. It was good to see a few people we don't normally bump into and to chat.

This afternoon, we went to Hexham for Mum's eye test. (I have spared her the ignominy of being blipped wearing those steam punk specs for the test!) New frames were chosen. The price is eye wateringly high!

I had just enough time to drive into Newcastle and meet Julie and her Australian friend, Anna, for a meal at Café Vivo before tonight's performance of Rattle Snake by the Open Clasp theatre group. Julie and I have seen them in other plays. They are a political theatre group.

Rattle Snake is about women who are in relationships where there is coercive control. It is a brilliant play and is brilliantly directed. The two actors (centre of my image) play the women, but also the man, James. Rattle Snake was originally commissioned by Durham University and Durham Constabulary and funded by Durham PCC and the AHRC and is used in the training of frontline police officers. It has been seen by scores of police in training and hopefully will help them to understand the plight of women (or men) in coercive abusive relationships. (As it happens, Anna, from  Sydney, works with women who have been abused.)

I asked Eilidh Talman, who plays Jen and James, how it feels to move instantaneously from one role to the other. She plays James more than Christina, the other actor, does. She said that being James was a bit of respite from the emotion of the play. "He knows that he is right all the time", so that gives her a break from the much more complex emotions of Jen.

Having had contact professionally with a number of men who would usually be regarded as pyschopaths, I think she hit the nail on the head. The sad thing is that they do not see the need to change.

For people who have not worked with abuse survivors, this play is a must. It should be seen by social workers, judges, solicitors, lawyers, and us all.

I was thrilled that so many young people from the local youth theatre were in the audience. The place was buzzing.

In my image from the left there is a young woman who works with groups in the West End of Newcastle, educating and empowering girls and women to have a voice. Then a solicitor who has specialised in domestic abuse for 30 years. Then the actors. Then Catrina McHugh, the author of the play and last, but not least, the wonderful signer for the evening. Sorry I don't have all the names.

For more information Rattle Snake at the Live Theatre with a couple of videos about the play and Open Clasp Theatre