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Exclusive screening to mark ten year anniversary of law change around controlling and coercive behaviour
We are inviting supporters to mark ten years since a landmark law change around coercive control was introduced by attending a special screening of Open Clasp Theatre Company’s play Rattle Snake at The Forum Music Studios in Darlington in March.
Rattle S
nake is a powerful play inspired by the real-life stories of women who experienced and survived coercive control in domestic abuse.
The play was performed in 2015, to coincide with a law change that made coercive control within relationships a criminal offence, placing controlling behaviour on a par with serious violent offending for the first time in history.
We are arranging thisspecial screening to celebrate ten years’ of Rattle Snake’s impact and the law change, which has made thousands more people accountable for the impacts of coercive control on survivors of domestic abuse.
The screening is being paired with a panel discussion chaired by Director of the Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA) and Professor of Criminology at Durham University, Professor Nicole Westmarland, about what difference changing the law has made to survivors of domestic abuse since its introduction, and what priorities for violence against women and girls are anticipated over the next 10 years.
Professor Westmarland was involved in the creation of Rattle Snake in 2015, alongside Durham Constabulary, and is also Vice-Chair of RSACC’s Board of Trustees.
She explained: “Rattle Snake is an important production that highlights the impacts of being in a relationship governed by coercive control; how easily abuse can be disguised by those who perpetrate it, and the challenges faced by survivors.”
“The play is just as relevant in 2025 as it was ten years ago, and we’re now able to reflect on the law change and its impact. I’m looking forward to leading a discussion about this alongside those working with survivors of sexual violence during this exclusive screening.”
The screening and panel discussion will take place at The Forum Music Studios in Darlington from 6-9pm on Wednesday 5 March, three days ahead of International Women’s Day.
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite for £12.50, with all proceeds going directly towards funding RSACC’s specialist services.
Isabel Owens, CEO of RSACC, said: “Every year RSACC supports more than 900 survivors of sexual violence with free and confidential face to face counselling, telephone, email, ISVA and group support.
“This includes many who have been impacted by controllingbehaviour within relationships, that has had a lasting impact on all aspects of their lives.
“We are pleased to be holding this event to help raise awareness of the services we provide for our community here in Darlington and County Durham, while helping to raise funds to sustain them for the thousands more people who will require our support into the future.”
“Our thanks go to all those who book tickets and attend for their support.”
To book tickets for the screening, visit Eventbrite.