Our Impact
The change we want can feel out of reach and hopeless, but theatre can and does change lives. It creates empathy.
We create spaces for women, inclusive of trans women and non-binary individuals, to be creative, share, and discuss. Women gather as experts in their lived experience to highlight the issues and what needs to change.
We work with trans men while they transition to the point where they feel that a women-only group is no longer the right space for them. Like many, we at Open Clasp Theatre Company are concerned about the divisive, hateful speech and actions we are hearing and witnessing across our country. While these feelings are not new for many, we recognise that this is a crucial moment to take a stand for what we believe is right.
It is essential that we remain committed to our mission to empower women and girls, driving positive change that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our communities.
Powerful Personal Change
Gold Star Members
Our gold star members are our co-creators who go the extra mile following the workshops. They stay close to the company, advise and directly inform the work being created. Our gold star members sit on post-show panels, advocating for and informing our company’s policies and strategies.
Read what Vanessa and Cheryl have to say about the impact working with Open Clasp has had on them.
Policy and Institutional Change
Our work has a transformational impact on professionals and directly impacts policy change. We bring the lived experience of women & girls into debates, discussions and training which we deliver using theatre for prison staff, police officers, social workers and other professionals who can aid social inclusion. Two examples are;
Us Too: Alisha’s Story is our training co-created with women who have a learning disability or autism and have experience of reporting sexual violence and/or domestic abuse to the police. It was created with academics who highlighted gaps in training for police officers and staff. Our training aimed to support initially 200 officers and multi-agency safeguarding staff in making positive changes to their practice. Training was delivered in May 2023 by our team, who have specialist knowledge and skills in theatre and drama, psychology and supporting survivors of sexual violence. The training led to immediate changes in the council’s safeguarding policies and further plans to integrate the experiences of victims with a learning disability or neurodiversity into their practice and procedures. That training is designed and tested, we now need to ‘package it’, reach more people & generate income.
This is a company that does something which is not only unique, but also entertaining and engaging, and incredibly important. They tell stories that need to be heard, and they allow their audiences to see the world through unexpected eyes.
Dame Catherine Healy
“I attended your play yesterday and it blew my socks off! This was, by a country mile, the most engaging, impactful and thought-provoking training session I have had in my fourteen-year career in the police.”
Police Officer, Durham Constabulary.
You can donate to support our work and help us co-create performances with women and girls.
