Angry Snatch: A Reclamation Job in 15 Rounds is a beautiful, poetic and striking piece of performance art theatre exploring the ​journey of recovery from intimate partner abuse. It was created from the lived experience of the writer/performer Frankie ​Walker along with experiences and stories from other women consulted for the making of this piece.

Working with experienced director and facilitator Meg Fenwick and renowned choreographer Cai Tomos, Frankie has ​translated this material into a 70-minute “hypnotic and lyrical” performance. It celebrates the strength and resilience of those ​who have been on this journey and have fought to feel empowered again. Set in a boxing ring, the piece uses boxing as a ​metaphor for the struggle to overcome the destructive and trapping nature of coercive control. It also features because boxing ​played an important role in the actual recovery of the artist. Combining this incredibly physical and energetic display with ​dance, spoken word and music, the piece offers what the Scotsman newspaper, called “an impressionistic examination of ​intimate partner violence.”

• 1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime.
  
• The police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds.
  
• On average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every 5 days in England and Wales.
  
• It takes, on average, 7 attempts before a woman is able to leave an abusive relationship for good.
  

These statistics from refuge.org.uk show the serious and endemic nature of abuse in England and Wales. This production aims ​to raise awareness and understanding for those on the outside of it whilst allowing those with lived experience to feel seen, ​heard and a little less alone. It aims to empower everyone to speak out against any kind of abuse or controlling behaviour and ​to start to change those statistics and put an end to violence against women.

Angry Snatch just had a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe attracting an incredibly diverse audience – from world ​champion boxers to local community organisations, regular fringe theatre-goers, international programmers and producers and ​local boxers. Staged site-specifically in Port O’Leith Boxing Gym, the show took on an even more nuanced appeal as the ​audience sat amongst the punch bags and equipment and were invited to participate by ringing the boxing bell to mark the end ​of each round.

Anahit Behrooz’s review in the Scotsman gave the show four stars and finished by saying:

“The intimacy of individual trauma, the fury against the structures that permit it – is gutting and enraging in equal ​measure. No violence is shown, but its presence across every layer of society is palpable.”

Audience feedback has been incredible with many audience members taking time to sit with and speak to the company after ​each performance – often sharing their own experiences and how the production has touched them.

“This is a really beautiful piece of work. The subject matter has the potential to be disturbing for the audience (and of ​course the performer and creative team) however my overriding experiences of the piece are of beauty and strength.”

“The performer has utter clarity and presence throughout, as well as true vulnerability. I think these are some of the ​reasons I feel safety and trust in how the subject matter is handled.”

“Such a rich, raw and validating experience. Thank you for speaking to the many faces of abusive relationships and ​reclamation. Treacherous sleep, self-doubt, blame, guilt, separateness from feeling.”

And from a local boxer who the company met at a local gym…

“It’s not my cup of tea usually, that kind of thing. But I’m really glad I came. I really enjoyed it.”

Come and see for yourself. Join us out on tour in Wales throughout September and October.

Jen

Frankie Walker presents / yn cyflwyno

Angry Snatch