At One in Four, much of our work takes place directly with adult survivors of child sexual abuse. But our wider mission also includes raising awareness, increasing understanding and helping to change the way child sexual abuse and its lasting impact are understood and talked about.
Sometimes that takes our work into unexpected places.
This summer, One in Four was privileged to work behind the scenes with the cast and creative team of Firebird, a powerful production by Double Telling at Southwark Playhouse.
Written by Phil Davies and directed by Marlie Haco, Firebird ran from 9 July to 7 August and confronted audiences with the realities of grooming, exploitation and the devastating consequences when the systems intended to protect children fail them.
A story that demands to be told with care
Set against the backdrop of the Rochdale grooming scandal, Firebird tells the story of Tia, a young girl who has been in care since age 3.
Feeling let down by those around her, Tia meets AJ, a charismatic older man who initially appears to offer the attention, affection and security she has been missing. But gifts and compliments gradually give way to coercion, threats and abuse.
The play explores extraordinarily challenging themes. For the actors bringing those experiences to life night after night, creating an authentic performance required more than learning lines and understanding a character. It meant engaging deeply with trauma and finding ways to step safely both into and out of their roles.
That is where One in Four helped.
Bringing One in Four’s trauma expertise behind the scenes
We matched Charlotte, one of our experienced counsellors, with the production to provide support to the cast and crew as they prepared for and performed Firebird.
Charlotte’s involvement provided the cast with specialist insight and support as they worked with the difficult subject matter at the heart of the play.
It is an example of an important, but perhaps less visible, part of One in Four’s work. Our knowledge and experience of trauma can help organisations and individuals beyond our counselling rooms to approach child sexual abuse with greater understanding, sensitivity and care.
For a production such as Firebird, that matters not only for the wellbeing of those involved, but also for the audiences who will encounter these stories.
The feedback from the cast was extremely positive, and the resulting performances were widely praised for their authenticity and emotional power.
Mollie Milne’s portrayal of Tia was described by The Live Review as “one of the most devastating portrayals of trauma I’ve seen on stage”, while The Stage called the production “a chilling study of grooming and coercive control.”
The power of authentic storytelling
Theatre has an extraordinary ability to take subjects that can feel difficult to discuss and make us stop, listen and engage.
Child sexual abuse remains one of those subjects.
Despite increased public awareness, too many survivors still struggle to be heard, understood and properly supported. Productions such as Firebird can play an important role in bringing the realities of abuse, grooming and exploitation into public consciousness.
But telling these stories carries a responsibility. They need to be approached with sensitivity, an understanding of trauma and respect for the experiences they represent.
For One in Four, working with the Firebird team was an opportunity to contribute our expertise to that process and support a production willing to confront an incredibly challenging issue.
As One in Four CEO Islay O’Hara says:
“It was such a privilege for One in Four to work in partnership with this production, supporting the cast to deliver a beautiful, authentic performance exploring the legacy of sexual abuse and the power of friendship.”
A decade after its acclaimed original production and West End transfer, Firebird‘s return to the London stage demonstrated that the issues it explores have lost none of their urgency.
The production may now have finished its run, but the conversations it creates must continue.
At One in Four, we will continue to look for opportunities to use our experience and expertise not only to support survivors directly, but also to help wider society better understand child sexual abuse, its impact and the importance of responding with knowledge, compassion and care.
Because greater understanding is part of creating change.
Find out more about One in Four’s work, training and specialist expertise here.
