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A recent theatre production in Northern Ireland has been challenging young audiences to reflect on how they respond when friends exhibit harmful behaviour. The play, titled *Called Out*, takes a hard look at toxic actions directed towards women and issues around gender-based violence. It has reached around 1,500 schoolchildren and young people through free performances, prompting questions such as whether one would confront or ignore a friend’s wrongdoing.
The narrative centers on two lifelong friends, Conor and Aidan, whose relationship is tested when one of them crosses crucial boundaries. Caelum Devlin, a 20-year-old student from Coalisland who attended a recent performance at the Craic Theatre in County Tyrone, described the show as profoundly impactful. He shared, “I was kind of speechless after it, it has definitely changed how I look at certain things and made me reflect on certain situations I’ve witnessed in the past.” Caelum emphasized that the themes remain urgent, noting the influence of misogyny, particularly on social media: “You just have to look at the news headlines and especially with the horrible misogyny on social media that young men can be so influenced by, so we need to be having this conversation out loud, and the play does that.”
Fourteen-year-old Lillyanna also found the play to be eye-opening. She expressed that, while some behaviours portrayed were familiar to her, the production illuminated how seemingly trivial actions can escalate into more serious issues. Lillyanna said, “I think the play probably has given me more confidence to speak out about that type of behaviour towards women and girls, and that’s a very powerful message for people my age to hear.” These responses underscore the drama’s role in encouraging young people to recognize and challenge harmful attitudes early.
*Called Out* was created by Wee Yarn Productions and co-produced by Craic Theatre, with direction by Coalisland-native Aoibh Johnson-Clarke. Although Aoibh initially felt compelled to write about women’s experiences as a woman herself, she believed the story needed a male perspective and thus her husband, Cahal Clarke, authored the script. He explained, “It’s very easy to say as a man that you wouldn’t engage in violence towards a woman, but it’s about looking at the things that we are complicit in that we watch happen and don’t say anything about, hence the name ‘Called Out’.” Aoibh highlighted the authenticity and rawness of the play, augmented by audio segments featuring real testimonies from women survivors, enhancing the emotional impact. The performance itself is delivered as a one-man show by Aoibh’s brother, Rónán Johnson, adding a personal family connection to the production.
Commissioned by Mid Ulster Council in conjunction with Craic Theatre and supported by the Education Authority as part of Stormont’s Ending Violence Against Women campaign, *Called Out* completed its initial run in late March. Organizers hope to expand the play’s reach across Northern Ireland, aiming to inspire change and empowerment through honest conversations about gender-based violence and toxic behaviours among young people
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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