Screening of ‘Rupture’ and Post-Show Panel Discussion

ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025 is delighted to host this special event, offering staff, students and public audiences at Durham University an opportunity to join an engaging conversation on driving social change.

The award-winning company behind Key Change (New York Times Critics’ Pick) and Sugar on BBC iPlayer bring you Rupture.

Created with women from HMP Low Newton, Rupture is a film is based on the true-life experiences that tells the story of what it’s like being a mother in prison.

The hosted screening will be followed a post-screening discussion with the creators of the film and experts working with women in the Criminal Justice System.

Tickets are FREE! (Booking essential.)

'Rupture' focuses on the harmful consequences of a custodial sentence for mothers separated from children. The play tackles the huge challenges mothers face when navigating contact with children and/ or engaging in children's services and family court proceedings from within the prison setting. Rupture tackles topics such as domestic violence, self-harm, child loss and suicide- it is hard hitting and powerful theatre. The character and storyline of Rupture was informed by mothers during a series of prison based theatre workshops facilitated by Open Clasp facilitators during late 2023. The live performance of Rupture toured in May 2025 including to audiences in prisons and theatres across the region including 'Live', Newcastle and 'Gala', Durham.

The event will invite audience members to discuss the themes tackled in the film and to collectively explore how we can bring about change. 

Kate O'Brien, Associate Professor Criminology Dept. Sociology.
Open Clasp Theatre
NEPACS

Adults

Practitioners working in various criminal justice settings including prison, probation and women's centres; social workers; legal practitioners

Welcome to arrive from 4:30 onwards for a 5pm start