Free play screening to mark campaign against gender-based violence

A free screening of the play Key Change, based on the true stories of women from HMP Low Newton, will be held at Northumbria University this Thursday, 7 December.

Performed by the Open Clasp Theatre Company, the play was filmed as part of the UN campaign ‘International Day to End Violence Against Women & Girls’ and will be screened at Northumbria’s Lipman Theatre at 6pm, followed by a Q&A discussion at 7pm.

Key Change came about after Open Clasp was commissioned by Dilly Arts on an innovative project to work in HMP and Young Offenders Institute Low Newton to give women in prison a voice.

The UK has one of the highest rates of women’s imprisonment in Western Europe - over 50% of women in prison report having suffered domestic abuse, one in three has suffered sexual abuse and nearly 40% leave prison homeless.

Based in the North East of England, Open Clasp has an international reach. Recent productions include Jumping Puddles (with Frantic Assembly), The Space Between Us and Swags & Tails. In 2013 Open Clasp were awarded the national Emma Humphreys Prize for outstanding contribution in raising awareness of violence against women and children in their work. 


To book a place at the screening click here. The trailer is available to view here.

Find out more about Northumbria University’s Performing Arts courses by visiting the Department of Arts page of the website.