Us Too Alisha’s Story

Us Too: Alisha’s Story is an Open Clasp Theatre Company film written by Julie Tsang and directed by Katja Roberts. The film focuses on the experiences of women with learning disabilities reporting sexual violence. The project was co-created with the Us Too group, and researchers from Durham and Sunderland University, using Open Clasp’s devising methodology using drama and theatre workshops. Us Too were supported in the project by Association for Real Change (ARC England).

The co-creation and production of Us Too: Alisha’s Story was funded by Durham University ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, Research England Participatory Action Research Fund and Sunderland University. The film was shown as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences in November 2022.

Working in partnership with Durham police, Open Clasp Theatre Company, ARC- Us Too and the Rape and Sexual Assault Counselling Centre in Darlington and County Durham (RSACC), Alisha’s story  was used in theatre-based reflective practice workshops. These workshops  were piloted in Durham in September 2023 engaging over 70 police officers and practitioners in developing inclusive criminal justice responses to sexual violence. Workshops were funded by the ESRC with co-funding from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner.