Breaking Barriers tackles violence against women and girls in new school performance

A Rochdale-based production company, Breaking Barriers, is currently touring schools across Greater Manchester with Blind Side, a powerful monologue aimed at addressing violence against women and girls.

The production, targeted at students aged 9 to 13, seeks to raise awareness of abusive behaviours, particularly within the context of social media.

The play centres around 14-year-old Summer, the only girl on her school football team. With the team on the brink of a crucial cup match, Summer is made captain, but her personal challenges begin to unfold as her phone buzzes incessantly with hurtful texts from supposed friends.
 

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As the tension builds, Summer’s story explores how these messages have led her to a moment of emotional crisis.

Kate Green, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, commented on the play's impact: “There is a lot we have seen from Blind Side that we need to think about developing. Having age-appropriate material to share with young people is crucial, whilst also making sure adults know how to have these discussions.”

Following each performance, the monologue is accompanied by a facilitated discussion. Young audiences are encouraged to reflect on the themes of the play, such as recognising signs of abusive and violent behaviour, understanding healthy relationships, and learning how to support peers in similar situations.

Jayne Harthan, population health programme officer for domestic abuse, said: “My initial thoughts after watching Blind Side are WOW! It’s powerful. There is physical abuse that is recognised, but also those other nuanced behaviours that are harmful. It tackles social norms and ‘banter’ but really shows how Summer is feeling at the end of all this.”

The piece, originally commissioned in 2022 by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police, was developed by consulting over 1,000 young people across the region.

These insights, particularly around street safety, social media, and unhealthy relationships, have directly shaped the play's storyline.

Though anonymised, the young people's experiences highlight the scale of these issues.

Joe Chlebik, children and young persons manager at Talk, Listen, Change, said: “Blind Side should be in every school, every year, every borough.

"It makes such a big difference in terms of what young girls and women are facing. Equally for young men and boys to recognise their own behaviours, where it is learnt, and how it impacts their friendships and peers... especially with the rise of social media and the people they might look up to.”

The play aims to shine a light on how social media shapes young people's interactions, while revealing how violence against women and girls can manifest online. Using the power of theatre, Breaking Barriers hopes to initiate important conversations about VAWG among both young people and adults.

Breaking Barriers, known for its innovative community-centred productions, continues its mission to use creativity as a tool for social change, empowering young people to challenge harmful norms and behaviours.

Breaking Barriers is a Rochdale-based production company that collaborates with local communities and international artists to create films, theatre, audio works, and walking tours. Their projects aim to inspire real change by addressing socio-economic barriers and nurturing the next generation’s creativity and ambition.