Британская театральная постановка о насилии в отношениях гастролирует по США

A theatre-maker from York is taking her interactive stage production to audiences in the US. Lise Kaye-Bell, founder of Soundproofbox CIC and creator of Red Flags, travelled to Birmingham, Alabama, to deliver the show with a team of American actors. Red Flags is an immersive theatre experience that raises awareness of unhealthy relationships and coercive control, encouraging audiences to become active bystanders and start conversations about the warning signs. Ms Kaye-Bell said: "I created Red Flags because I wanted to give people a voice. "Theatre can reach people in a completely different way. "It can make difficult conversations feel accessible and give audiences the opportunity to recognise things they might otherwise overlook." The project began in Yorkshire and has since reached thousands of people through performances in schools, communities and public spaces. Before heading to the US, Ms Kaye-Bell and her team performed Red Flags at Vale of York School and Burton Green Primary School, as well as in front of York Minster during a fundraiser for Kyra Women’s Project. The production has also toured schools across North Yorkshire throughout 2024 and 2025, helping young people explore topics including healthy relationships, boundaries, coercive control and recognising warning signs. In Alabama, Ms Kaye-Bell chose to collaborate with local actors rather than bringing a British cast, ensuring the production remained relevant to its new audience. She added: "I never imagined when I first created Red Flags that I would be taking it to America and working with American actors. "What started as a response to something that made me feel powerless has grown into something that gives other people a voice. "Seeing the actors in Alabama take the story on and make it their own has been incredibly powerful." The experience has opened doors to further US collaborations, and Ms Kaye-Bell is now exploring partnerships with theatres, universities and community organisations in other cities. She plans to continue developing the project in the US while expanding its reach in the UK. The core message remains the same on both sides of the Atlantic: recognising the warning signs of coercive control is the first step towards speaking out. Red Flags not only highlights these issues but also equips audiences with the language and confidence to address them. The Alabama project has shown that the production can be adapted for different communities while staying true to its purpose. Ms Kaye-Bell hopes to build on this momentum by developing further US performances using local talent and continuing to grow the project in the UK. She believes interactive theatre can help make difficult subjects more approachable and ultimately empower people to take action.