On the ropes
When a private photo goes public, two sixteen-year-olds find themselves in freefall. What begins as a moment of impulse becomes a reckoning with power, trust and the long shadow of family violence. Inside a lawyer’s office their stories unfurl, tangled in questions of coercion, consent, and the fear of being defined by their worst mistake.
This is the story at the heart of On the ropes, a ground-breaking collaboration between Peninsula Community Legal Centre and Melbourne’s acclaimed Red Stitch Theatre. Based on real experiences from young people, our production tackles the issues that matter most: family violence, coercive control, consent, and the legal realities teenagers face today.
But this isn’t just theatre. It’s transformation.
This live performance creates an immediate, emotional truth that stays with students long after the final scene. Through powerful storytelling and guided discussion, young people don’t just learn about these issues; they develop the empathy, critical thinking, and confidence to recognise and respond to real-world situations.
In 2026, we’re bringing this life-changing experience to over 5,000 students across local secondary schools. Will your school be part of the conversation?
Youth issues adressed in the play
On the ropes by Dan Giovanonni tackles several critical issues faced by young people today, weaving them into a compelling narrative grounded in realism, empathy and legal insight. Through the intertwined stories of two 16-year-olds and the guidance of a lawyer piecing together what really happened, the play opens up space for honest reflection and practical learning.
Consent
The play explores consent not as a single moment, but as a complex, evolving set of choices shaped by trust, pressure and power. Through scenes involving private photos, relationship expectations and peer influence, students witness how misunderstandings and coercion can blur boundaries — and what respectful, informed consent should look like.
Impact of Family Violence
Family violence exists beneath the surface of one character’s life, shaping their sense of safety, decision-making and relationships. Rather than sensationalising, the play reveals how violence at home can create patterns of fear, vigilance and silence in young people. It shows how the effects of family violence ripple outward — influencing behaviour, friendships, school life and emotional wellbeing.
Coercive Control
The romantic relationship at the heart of the story illustrates how “protective” behaviour can slowly slide into controlling behaviour. Through text messages, social media posts and everyday interactions, the audience sees how jealousy, monitoring and manipulation escalate. The play invites young people to recognise early signs, understand the emotional impact, and consider how friends and bystanders can respond.
Legal Rights, Responsibilities and Support Options
Told through the framework of a lawyer interviewing the characters and reconstructing events, the play gives a clear, accessible insight into how the law views violence, image-based harm, assault and consent. Without preaching, it shows what can happen when conflict escalates, and how legal processes aim to protect young people.
The play also highlights the importance of seeking help early — from trusted adults, school wellbeing teams, community services and legal aid — and demonstrates that support is available, even when situations feel overwhelming or confusing.
Practical information for schools
On the ropes by Dan Giovanonni is designed to be flexible, accessible and impactful for school communities. Below is everything you need to know when considering a booking.
Duration
The performance runs for approximately 50 minutes.
Number of Performances Per Day
We can deliver two to three performances per day, depending on your timetable and cohort sizes.
Suitable Year Levels
The play is ideal for Year 8 to Year 11.
Audience Capacity
Recommended audience size: 30–150 students per performance.
Venue Requirements
The play is designed for a wide range of school environments including theatres or performance spaces; libraries or multipurpose rooms; larger classrooms
Technical Requirements
Minimal technical setup is required. Schools will need access to power; adequate space for three actors and a small set; approximately 60minutes for bump-in and bump-out; a private space for actors to prepare.
Cost
Thanks to current project funding, performances are free of charge for schools until funding is exhausted. Early booking is recommended.
Meet the cast and crew
About Red Stitch Theatre
Red Stitch Actors Theatre is a Melbourne-based, actor-led ensemble company established in 2001, known for producing award-winning contemporary theatre, including new Australian works, and nurturing theatre-makers. The company is artist-driven, with a reputation for high-quality productions that engage with the complexities of the human experience.
Renowned for bold, contemporary productions, Red Stitch brings their artistry and integrity to this project, ensuring the performances are not only powerful but deeply authentic.
Why this project matters
Family and gender-based violence is one of the most pressing issues facing our communities today:
- 1 in 4 Australian women has experienced violence by an intimate partner.
- On average, one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner.
- In Victoria, police respond to a family violence incident every six minutes — and children are present in nearly one-third of those cases.
- Young people are directly affected: 57% of gender and sexually diverse young people report verbal assault, 29% sexual abuse, and 28% say these experiences occurred at school.
These figures highlight why prevention and early education are critical. Young people are not only witnesses — they are victims, bystanders, and future decision-makers. The Youth Theatre Project responds by helping students build awareness, empathy, and pathways to safety before patterns of violence take hold.
Student Safety and Wellbeing
Download our Safety and Wellbeing Framework for more information on our trauma-informed approach to keeping students safe and well.
PCLC's interactive play empowers young people to recognise the red flags of coercive control, family violence and consent.
We know these are sensitive issues, and the safety and wellbeing of students is paramount. That’s why every aspect of the performance and workshop has been developed with care, guided by our Safety and Wellbeing Framework.
This framework ensures the experience is positive and supportive, with clear processes in place to minimise the risk of distress while maximising opportunities for learning and connection.
Download the framework to learn more about our guiding principals, consultations with survivor advocates and subject matter experts, our content development process and our trauma-informed delivery.
Our experience in theatre based prevention
PCLC’s “This is Not Who I Want to Be” youth theatre project ran from 2022 to 2024 and was an award winning preventative community legal education initiative for CALD secondary students.
In November 2024 the project received a bronze award in the community-led category of the 2024 Australian Crime and Prevention Awards. You can hear more about the project in this video.
