> Praise for Qdos as it tackles domestic abuse
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Praise for Qdos as it tackles domestic abuse
Qdos Dance Theatre has won praise from community leaders for its latest production, Behind Closed Doors, a dance theatre performance which explores and raises awareness of domestic abuse.
The piece was performed at a recent conference on the subject, organised by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership and Barnsley Primary Care Trust.
Sarah Mainwaring, director, BMBC’s Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership, commented: “I knew I could rely on Qdos to produce the piece quickly, and to a high standard, and I knew that Qdos would research the issue and understand the message I was needing to portray. And I certainly was not disappointed."
“The piece delivered a very hard-hitting, but poignant message. It did not give the answers, which allowed the audience to think for themselves, neither did it offer a definite conclusion, but left the risk hanging in the air for the audience to debate upon.”
Diane Weston, Equality and Diversity Manager for Berneslai Homes, which manages homes on behalf of Barnsley Council, said: “It was stunning. Powerful, emotive, thought-provoking, and demonstrated the issues around domestic abuse.”
The conference was held at Priory Campus, Barnsley, and attended by 100 delegates from health, social and community fields.
Behind Closed Doors features two performers who explore ‘public’ and ‘private’ behaviour within an abusive relationship. Itwas written and devised by Anjie Taylor, artistic director, Qdos Dance Theatre, and Paul Bateson, from an original idea by Anjie Taylor. The production was directed by Jow Bedford, Mandy Jones and Katrina Whale, and featured songs by Barnsley singer-songwriter, Maria Lynch from the highly-acclaimed album Time Between Times.
Anjie Taylor commented: “This adult-orientated project has allowed us to build on the reputation Qdos has established for creating issue-based dance theatre performances and workshops with and for young people. The feedback has been fantastic and it has given us the impetus to work on similar projects in the future.”