Following the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, Barking & Dagenham Council undertook a Women’s Safety Survey, mapping perceptions of safety and locations where residents (particularly women and girls) felt unsafe. In support of the Borough’s commitment to providing a safer neighbourhood for its residents and visitors, Arc created Time's Up! - a new interactive drama and multi-media programme highlighting issues surrounding the public safety of women and girls, originally funded by the Barking & Dagenham Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL).
Time's Up! is now available as a powerful youth engagement resource for ages 11+ in secondary schools, using participative Forum Theatre to raise awareness of the consequences of sexist intimidation, harassment, stalking and sexual offences on the streets and public transport, whilst encouraging ‘Upstander’ behaviour and highlighting how/where to get help.
Time’s Up! is designed for all genders to be educated together on the issues, and aims to:
- Address and challenge unwelcome and inappropriate behaviour,
- Improve empathy and understanding of the impact of such negative behaviours on health and wellbeing, whilst emphasising the legal/criminal consequences for perpetrators,
- Increase confidence in reporting harassment, intimidation and sexual offences on the streets and public transport,
- Introduce the 5Ds of Upstander behaviour (as defined by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust): Distract, Delegate, Document, Direct and Delay,
- Signpost where to get help, advice and support, what to do in an emergency as a witness or victim, and local initiatives such as safe spaces (e.g. B&D Safe Havens).
“Superb - hard hitting, interactive, and made it relevant to EVERYONE”
Barking & Dagenham Secondary Teacher, Time's Up! tour 2025
If you’d like to talk to us about how to engage your audience on issues that really matter, please contact nita@arctheatre.com or call 07483 342158.
Themes
Age
Adults
Sessions
Cost
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