A powerful theatre production addressing violence against women and girls is set to tour primary schools across Tameside from 20th April, reaching more than 1,150 young people.

Created by Rochdale-based production company Breaking Barriers, Blind Side is a monologue and workshop programme designed for Year 5 to 8 pupils. The programme focuses on early prevention, helping young people understand what healthy relationships look like. This work is set against the wider context in Tameside, where 96% of domestic abuse victims are women (Tameside.Gov), this work plays a vital role in supporting early prevention and awareness.

Funded by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, the programme is being delivered free to schools. It combines live performance with facilitated discussion, film content and classroom resources to support ongoing safeguarding education.

At the heart of the programme is a 20-minute live monologue following a young person who is the only girl on her school football team. Through her story, pupils gain insight into the impact of negative messages and harmful behaviour from peers she once trusted. The performance is supported by a wider package including a pre-session film, guided discussion and follow-up classroom activities, enabling schools to continue conversations around violence against women and girls, controlling behaviour and misogyny beyond the initial session.

Evaluation data shows a strong impact on pupils’ understanding, with 90% able to identify what makes a healthy relationship following the performance, and 87% understanding what consent is and how to give and ask for it. These findings highlight the value of early intervention and demonstrate how targeted education can contribute to preventing violence against women and girls.

The Spring 2026 tour will deliver 25 sessions across 15 schools in Tameside, building on an established track record of delivery. Since 2024, Blind Side has reached over 3,500 pupils across Greater Manchester and is expected to engage a further 1,150 students this Spring. Overall, the programme has worked with more than 60 schools, reflecting a growing demand from educators for preventative, age-appropriate approaches.

Tameside Council’s Assistant Director of Education & Inclusion, Emlyn Wright said: “Early prevention is vital in tackling violence against women and girls and work like the Blind Side production plays a crucial role in that effort.

“By engaging children in an age‑appropriate way, we help them understand what healthy relationships look like before harmful attitudes have a chance to take root.

“The impact we’ve seen across Tameside schools shows how powerful this kind of education can be. It starts meaningful conversations and equips young people with the confidence to challenge behaviour that doesn’t feel right.

“We’re proud to work with Breaking Barriers to ensure our pupils receive this important learning at a formative stage in their lives.”

Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director at Breaking Barriers, said:
“We’re really pleased to be bringing Blind Side to schools across Tameside. Early prevention work like Blind Side gives young people the opportunity to understand what unhealthy and unacceptable behaviour looks like, and encourages boys to be allies, recognise harmful behaviour, speak out, and support their peers in making the right choices. We’re committed to continuing this work across Greater Manchester and beyond, helping young people build awareness, confidence, and respect in their relationships.”

Kim Farrall, Headteacher at St Luke's Primary School in Heywood, said: “The Blind Side workshop was an incredibly impactful experience for our pupils.

Through a powerful monologue and engaging discussion, it explored the serious issue of violence against women and girls in a way that was both accessible and meaningful.

Importantly, it has helped our children feel more confident in approaching and discussing sensitive topics, giving them the tools to navigate difficult conversations with maturity and respect. Our pupils have developed a deeper understanding that will support them in making informed choices in the future.”

Breaking Barriers is an award-winning production company based in Rochdale, creating theatre, immersive experiences and films that address complex social issues affecting young people, including child criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, hate crime and youth violence. Their work focuses on amplifying unheard voices and delivering creative interventions that educate, empower and help young people stay safe, with previous collaborations including police forces, local authorities and schools across the UK.

Schools interested in booking future sessions or learning more can contact Ella Marshall, Tour Producer, at ella@breakingbarriersrochdale.com