Addressing the rise of domestic violence through interactive theatre
Domestic violence cases have risen dramatically since the start of stay-at-home orders last March, with more women than ever calling hotlines for help. UNMUTE, a play written and produced by Toronto-based theatre company Theatre of the Beat, was an interactive drama that addressed some of the ways we, as bystanders, may be able to help someone in an abusive situation.
The play was fairly short in length (just under an hour long) and all done over Zoom. It portrays a stressed out, toxic relationship through video calls with friends who have no idea what is going on. Some of the scenes included the following: the victim calling her best friend, the victim calling her boss, the assailant on a call with his two friends, the couple’s daughter on the phone with her girlfriend, and a party scene with most of the characters all together. The scenes slowly unravelled as this couple’s friend group began to understand what was happening and ended in a dramatic finale of an implied assault.
It was an eye-opening play, as audience members could easily see themselves and their limited perspective reflected in these friends who were in disbelief over this supposedly “happy” couple’s situation — and in their utter confusion of not knowing what to do or say when an opportunity to address the situation arises. Some of the characters look straight through clear warning signs that something serious is happening, and others want to stay out of the situation entirely because it’s “best to stay out of other people’s problems.” It also touched on secondary victims of domestic abuse — the children in the household and how much this violence affected their health and well-being, as well as the complicated issue of knowing when and how minors should be involved when addressing the abuse happening in their household.
After the play was over, the cast performed key scenes again, with the audience getting the chance to interject when they noticed the bystanders doing something wrong. Those who chimed in then got to suggest what they might do differently in this situation, and a few brave audience members even improvised alternative scenes with the cast members. This interactive portion of the show was extremely helpful in giving the audience ways they could respond to situations like this, but more time should’ve been allotted, as only half of the crucial scenes got covered.
Some excellent advice was given by the producer of the show, the audience members who contributed, and a social worker from a transition house in Manitoba who made an appearance in one of the improvised scenes. When talking to a friend, co-worker, or any acquaintance you think may be going through a hard time, it’s important to be present and to listen actively by not interrupting and by asking follow-up questions. Be aware of warning signs, and always believe someone when they say they’re in trouble. Suggest that you call hotlines together to figure out a doable plan to get your friend out of a complicated situation. We are able, as active bystanders, to let our friends know when something is or is not normal in a relationship, as our friends may be coerced into thinking a partner’s toxic behaviour is okay. There is also the lesser-known hand signal for help that we can make discreetly during video calls to let our friends know that something is not okay. It’s important to give suggestions to those going through abuse in order to give them choice and agency. This play emphasized the fact that we’re not all trained counsellors and may not know exactly what to do in these situations, but we can still be strong supporters for our friends and reach out to those who are trained.
The interactive portion ran out of time quickly, and we didn’t get to touch on how the assailant’s friends should’ve acted toward him or how the friends ultimately tried to intervene when they realized what was happening. It’s not just the victim who needs support but also the abuser who needs encouragement and guidance to heal. Confronting the assailant and guiding them to get professional help is something that must be done with the utmost attention to safety, as the risk of serious violence goes way up when someone is thinking about leaving an abusive situation.
This play portrayed a wife as a victim and a husband as an abuser, and while this is statistically the most common dynamic in domestic violence, abuse can happen to all genders and in all relationships. Abuse does not have to be just physical in nature, but can be emotional, spiritual, or financial. Abuse also looks like one partner controlling the other in a variety of ways — dictating whom they see, when they can leave the house, and what birth control methods they can use. Support is needed in every form of abuse, and we must be active responders rather than passive bystanders if we have any reason to believe abuse is happening.
Theatre of the Beat specializes in shows that spark conversations around social justice issues. Follow them on Instagram for updates on upcoming shows, and stay tuned for when the play gets released in podcast format in the near future.
Unmute Graphic. (Theatre of the Beat)
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
