Defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, the majority of domestic abuse incidents are perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. Signs of domestic violence including coercive control, psychological, physical and financial abuse, harassment and stalking and online and digital abuse amongst others (Women’s Aid). An issue that sadly affects both men and women – in the vast majority of cases women, the impact of domestic abuse can often have a long lasting traumatic result, victims of abuse often afraid of disclosing what they’re going through or unsure of whom to contact. A brave exploration of this issue, writer Martha Watson Allpress presents multi-award winning, including an OnComm Commendation awarded by the Off West End Awards, Patricia Gets Ready (for a date with the man that used to hit her), a one woman show shining a delicate light on the realities of domestic abuse and those who experience it. Due to embark on a tour, starting off at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester on Tuesday 10th May, and including Brixton House from the 17th to 22nd May, before concluding at Derby Theatre on 27th May, performer Yasmin Dawes who’ll star as Patricia tells us more about what drew her to take part in the production, what she’s taken away from the creative process and what we can expect from the show.
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