Earlier this year I teamed up with Therese Lynch to make a new short dance film. Related to my Hip Hop theatre piece, Second Guessing, the film investigates the theme of coercive control from the victim’s perspective. Second Guessing is being screened here as part of FilmFest by Rogue Dance: 2 Close until 5th February 2023.

It has been a long road since that time we thought everything was alright and safe. Politics forgetting its public service, pandemic, war, depressed teens, no touching, no smiling, trying to identify people by their eyebrows, isolating, dysfunctional bi-solating, comfy TV watching pants all the time and no live DANCE class. As we learn how to people again and feel normal… everything is still 2 Close. The healing process requires the vulnerability of opening our hearts again.

“Coercive control is a strategic pattern of behaviour designed to exploit, control, create dependency and dominate. The victim’s every day existence is micro managed and her space for action as well as potential as a human being is limited and controlled by the abuser.” https://www.laurarichards.co.uk/coercive-control/

The film captures moments of a trip to the supermarket, conveying the complex and pervasive impact of the abuse on the victim’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

UK Domestic Abuse helpline 0800 027 1234