Starting on the UN Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and continuing for 16 days of activism, Rattle Snake will be online from 25 November – 10 December 2021. Between 2019 and 2020, over 16,000 people watched and over 2,000 watched at private screenings. Viewers shared the play with colleagues, friends and family to help raise awareness of coercive control. To book tickets with British Sign Language interpretation, click HERE

Spine tingling and visceral, Rattle Snake will literally take your breath away. An epic tale based on real life stories of women who have faced and survived coercive controlling domestic abuse.

Following a national tour, this emotional tour-de force is being used to train frontline police officers responding to sexual and domestic violence after the UK law was changed, making coercive control in relationships a crime.

From the company behind Key Change, the New York Times Critics’ Pick and Winner of the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award 2015, streamed globally to an audience of 27,000 in 35 countries as part of the UN Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women & Girls.

“Rattle Snake holds the voices of those who have survived coercive control and our aim is to make the best theatre we can to ensure those voices are heard. This play matters because we live in a world where there is a sense of entitlement to take away another person’s liberty, to control, threaten and annihilate.  I want change; theatre is my way to make it happen.” Writer, Catrina McHugh MBE, Writer of the Year, Rattle Snake, 2018 (Journal Culture Awards)

Age Recommendation: 15+

Sources of Information and Support

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 24 hour support service for women. 0800 200247

Karma Nirvana: a UK charity that supports victims and survivors of forced marriage and Honour Based Abuse. 0800 5999247

Freephone Rape Crisis England & Wales: Provides support and services for women & girls who’ve experienced sexual violence. 0800 8029999

Galop: LGBT+ anti-violence charity. o800 9995428

Childline: Free, confidential support service for under 19 year olds. 0800 1111

Date Venue Buy tickets
Sunday, 8th December, 8pm Words Weekend, The Sage, Gateshead
Saturday, 30th November, 1pm Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday 7th November, 1pm Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Thursday 28th November, 6pm The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead