Студенты театра УАБ представят спектакль о предупреждении насилия в отношениях

College theater students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are presenting a show designed to help young people recognize warning signs and prevent relationship violence before it begins. The show, “Red Flags,” will debut at a free Theatre UAB showcase Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. The play will then be performed on educational tours at high schools throughout the state during the 2026-27 academic year. Theatre UAB is the performance company of the UAB Department of Theatre. “Red Flags” was created through a collaboration between the UAB Department of Theatre and Soundproofbox, an applied theater company based in Leeds, United Kingdom. The project is supported by a $40,000 grant from the Megan Montgomery Foundation. Montgomery, a UAB graduate, was slain on Dec. 1, 2019, by her estranged husband after she had escaped. Conceived by Soundproofbox founder Lisa Kaye-Bell, “Red Flags” uses the principles of forum theater, an applied theater form pioneered by Brazilian theater practitioner Augusto Boal. The approach transforms audience members from spectators into participants, creating opportunities for dialogue, reflection and problem-solving around real-world social issues. The production focuses on relationship warning signs, healthy communication and violence prevention, providing young audiences with tools to identify unhealthy behaviors before harmful patterns become entrenched. Following each performance, audiences are invited to engage with the scenarios presented on stage, exploring alternative choices and outcomes in a safe, educational setting. “This is a hands-on opportunity for our students to put their theater training to work for good in the world,” said Professor Megan Lewis, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Theatre, in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences. “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Megan Montgomery Foundation on a project that aligns so closely with our mission of using theater to educate, engage and strengthen communities.” Student performers will be mentored by UAB faculty Kelley Schoger and Mona Eldahshoury, whose expertise in acting, directing, applied theater, and consent and boundary work will help guide the production’s development and touring engagement. Through Theatre UAB’s established touring program and long-standing partnerships with schools and educators across Alabama, “Red Flags” will bring conversations about healthy relationships and prevention directly to students and communities statewide. The initiative also provides valuable opportunities for applied theater training for UAB students while extending the university’s educational mission beyond campus. Schools and organizations interested in booking a performance of Red Flags may contact UAB Theatre Program Manager Brian Ernsberger at  Founded in 2022, the Megan Montgomery Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking nonprofit and catalyst for change which supports schools in providing relationship health education for students. Foundation leaders say the partnership with Theatre UAB will help expand the reach of its prevention work to educators and students throughout Alabama. Montgomery was determined to educate young adults on the red flags of abusive partners, but her life was cut short before she could realize her vision. Her family created the public foundation in her memory to continue her legacy of preventing relationship violence before it starts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young men and women ages 16-24 are the most at-risk age group for first-time relationship violence. Experts recommend educating young adults as relationship patterns are forming to prevent relationship violence before it starts. The Megan Montgomery Foundation is the only nonprofit in Alabama devoted 100 percent to primary prevention with grantmaking to educational organizations and nonprofits, according to the founders.