Chelsea’s Choice: an exploration of the role of theatre as an educational device to subvert, challenge and tackle sexual violence and exploitation

James, Carolyne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0784-3433 (2018) Chelsea’s Choice: an exploration of the role of theatre as an educational device to subvert, challenge and tackle sexual violence and exploitation. In: Sibéal Feminist and Gender Studies Network Conference: Voices and Choices: Intersecting Global Feminisms, 16-17 November 2018, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Chelsea’s Choice is a distinctive and powerful theatre production by Alter Ego Creative Solutions which is performed in schools. It aims to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and the nature of sexual violence in society. Based upon a true story it tells the story of three students who discover the diary of a girl called Chelsea. She is a 15-year-old girl, isolated from her friends and family who meets a young man who has a car, own flat and at first listens to her and is kind. Her story is played out by the students who, along with their teacher, attempt to understand what happened to Chelsea and how it could have been prevented. Followed by an actor facilitated post-show talk the performance shows how young people can be cleverly manipulated and groomed into exploitative and violent situations. This paper demonstrates how the play raises awareness of the issues relating to sexual exploitation and reaches out to young people, giving them skills and knowledge to be able to protect themselves from this form of abuse. The play also helps to challenge and tackle sexual abuse and violence and aims to change some of the prevailing perceptions of sexual violence in society, which is often reproduced in schools. The play, which has now been seen by hundreds of professionals and over 800,000 young people throughout the UK. It is a positive device and can achieve many of those aims in raising awareness around the issues surrounding CSE.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Departments:	Academic Departments > Business, Law, Policing & Social Sciences (BLPSS) > Policing, Criminology & Social Sciences
Additional Information:	Carolyne James is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology & Policing at the University of Cumbria, UK.
Depositing User:	Anthony Greenwood
Date Deposited:	17 Jan 2019 10:25
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 20:46
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/4348

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