A SHOW about domestic abuse is coming to Salisbury International Arts Festival on Tuesday June 4 as part of a UK tour.

One in four women experience domestic abuse in their lives. Smack That (a conversation) by theatre-maker and choreographer Rhiannon Faith shines a light on this complex subject.

Rhiannon said ‘The idea for the show has been with me for years from seeing the experiences and hearing the stories from friends and family and others who felt OK talking privately but lacked the confidence to talk publicly about what they had been (or still were) going through.

“A lot of dance is there to decorate the world, which is lovely but I am more there to change the world. I only make shows if something makes me feel angry.”

In 2018 the show sold out a week-long run at The Barbican and a short UK tour, and was recently shortlisted for the Innovation in Dance category in the inaugural One Dance UK Awards.

Smack That (a conversation) features a female cast of seven, all of whom play Beverly, the main character in the show. They are a close-knit group made up of non-performers and experienced dance and theatre artists.

Each has their own personal experience of domestic abuse and they convey the turbulent, real-life experiences of domestic abuse that Beverly, and they, have endured and survived.

The party setting of the show creates a safe space for them to reveal the challenges they have faced and to celebrate their resilience with the audience.

Stories of abuse intertwine with party games and energetic dance routines to create a powerful, moving and unashamedly entertaining piece of theatre.

The fun, upbeat party setting allows these voices to be heard without prejudice and where marshmallows and party poppers readily mix with refuge contact information.

Smack That (a conversation) is being staged at 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT, as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival. Tickets at £13 are available on 01722 320333 and at www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk