A HARD-HITTING theatre production designed to challenge attitudes around violence against women and girls is set to reach over 1,100 pupils across Tameside this spring.
Blind Side will tour primary and secondary schools from April 20, combining performance with workshops aimed at helping young people understand healthy relationships from an early age.
The programme, aimed at pupils in Years 5 to 8, comes against a stark local backdrop. According to council data, 96 per cent of domestic abuse victims in Tameside are women – a statistic organisers say underlines the importance of early education and prevention.
Funded by Tameside Council, the sessions are being delivered free to schools by Breaking Barriers – a Rochdale-based Community Interest Company (CIC) – and blend live theatre with discussion, film content and classroom resources to support longer-term safeguarding work.
At the centre of the programme is a 20-minute monologue following a girl who is the only female player on her school football team. Through her story, pupils are introduced to the impact of harmful behaviour and negative attitudes from peers, opening up conversations around consent, respect and misogyny.
The performance is designed to be just the starting point. Schools are supported with pre-session materials and follow-up activities to help continue discussions beyond an initial visit.
Early feedback suggests the approach is having a meaningful impact. Evaluation data shows that 90 per cent of pupils who took part could identify the characteristics of a healthy relationship, while 87 per cent said they understood what consent is and how to give and ask for it.
Over the coming weeks, 25 sessions will be delivered across 15 schools in Tameside, building on previous work that has already reached more than 3,500 pupils across Greater Manchester since 2024.
Emlyn Wright, Assistant Director of Education & Inclusion at Tameside Council, said: “Early prevention is vital in tackling violence against women and girls and work like the Blind Side production plays a crucial role in that effort.
“By engaging children in an age-appropriate way, we help them understand what healthy relationships look like before harmful attitudes have a chance to take root.
“The impact we’ve seen across Tameside schools shows how powerful this kind of education can be. It starts meaningful conversations and equips young people with the confidence to challenge behaviour that doesn’t feel right.
“We’re proud to work with Breaking Barriers to ensure our pupils receive this important learning at a formative stage in their lives.”
Breaking Barriers specialises in using theatre and film to explore complex social issues affecting young people – from domestic abuse and exploitation to hate crime and youth violence.
Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director at Breaking Barriers, added: “We’re really pleased to be bringing Blind Side to schools across Tameside. Early prevention work like Blind Side gives young people the opportunity to understand what unhealthy and unacceptable behaviour looks like, and encourages boys to be allies, recognise harmful behaviour, speak out, and support their peers in making the right choices.
“We’re committed to continuing this work across Greater Manchester and beyond, helping young people build awareness, confidence, and respect in their relationships.”