A square poster with a light blue background containing bold dark green text, the headline reads 'Unseen’. Underneath the title in smaller text, reads ‘a gripping new audio drama by Extant’. Below this green text which highlights the key tour dates and locations, which read October 2024 Tour, 16th - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 4pm, 17th - The Lowry, Salford, 5:30pm, 23rd - Bloomsbury Festival, London, 4:30pm, 28th - Online, 7pm followed below by www.extant.org.uk/unseen At the bottom of the poster are a row of 4 pitched rooftops in a line. The houses are painted blue, pink, yellow and green.

Listen to Unseen Audio Drama below:

Content warning: This audio drama contains themes of domestic abuse, violence, trauma and strong language. 

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in Unseen, there are links to resources at the bottom of this page.

If you would like to view a copy of the script of Unseen please click on Unseen Online Script.

Audience quotes:

“A very well-crafted audio drama that not only shines a light on the many forms of domestic abuse, but also, I think, in a way gives some hope.” (Toby Davey, RNIB Connect) 

“It’s a very effective, engaging and enlightening drama…Ben Wilson’s directing and Ian Rattray’s  sound design are both excellent, helping to bring the story to life and giving it extra impact in the right moments.” (Glen Turner, WellEyeNever)

“I think this is probably one of the most important and relevant pieces Extant has created, a real insight into a world hidden from most.” (Audience member)

“Unseen perfectly portrayed Aspects of the abuse I have suffered.” (Audience Member)

Unseen Tour

Extant presents a live event to accompany Unseen, a gripping new audio drama that examines the subtle and insidious effect of domestic abuse on the blind and visually impaired community, using empathy, hope and candour to raise awareness of this important subject. 

Excerpts from the audio drama will be performed live by visually impaired actors, followed by a panel discussion with members of the creative team and representatives from organisations that have supported the making of the work. 

Through the stories of two visually impaired protagonists, Unseen illuminates the unique ways that domestic abuse impacts on blind and VI people in their homes and intimate relationships, from love-bombing to gaslighting, care to coercive control. Where do we turn when the ones who are supposed to love and care for us are the very people, we’re most afraid of? 

The work is a creative response to The Unseen report, commissioned by Fight for Sight (forged from the merger of Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation), and researched and compiled by the charity SafeLives. This report highlighted the inaccessibility of domestic abuse services to visually impaired people, despite the fact that disabled people are nearly three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled people.

Unseen October 2024 tour dates:

16th October – Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 4pm

17th October – The Lowry, Salford, 5:30pm

23rd October – Bloomsbury Festival, London, 4:30pm

23rd October – Bloomsbury Radio, Online, 7pm

28th October – Online, 7pm

Unseen October 2024 tour dates and booking information:

To book tickets for Arena, The Lowry or the Online event, please click here.

To book tickets for the Bloomsbury Festival event, click here.

To listen live to Unseen on Bloomsbury Radio, click here on 23rd October at 7pm.

Unseen Tour Programme:

October Tour Programme

Unseen Team Credits

For a more in depth insight into the process of Unseen:

Tam Gilbert provides a sneak peak into the rehearsal room of Unseen: An Assistant Producer Perspective

Louisa Sanfey reflects on our upcoming Unseen tour: Co-creation and Unseen

Ellen Jupp analyses the environmental impact of the creation, rehearsal and premiere of Unseen: Environmental Analysis

A photo of Maria, a middle aged biracial woman, sitting next to Anita, a young black woman who are together and smiling in a recording studio.

Maria Oshodi, Artistic Director, Extant:  

“Extant is proud to continue its trend of dramatizing report outcomes with this new important piece, funded and originally commissioned by the Vision Foundation. Even though the new government ‘Flee Fund’ released to help those experiencing domestic violence is welcomed, for many disabled people in this situation, a host of other factors makes escape more difficult. However, we hope that Unseen will uncover this and have great impact, as other recent dramatisations of social injustices such as the Post Office scandal have had on the population.” 

A photo from behind of three white people sitting at a recording studio desk. From the left, Ben is sat back wearing headphones and holding an Ipad, Han is leaning over and pressing a button and Ian is listening to the recording.

Ben Wilson, Trainee Artistic Director, Extant and Director of Unseen 

“The team behind the Unseen Report did an amazing job highlighting this incredibly important issue that affects so many VI people. Extant always want to tell nuanced stories of VI people and help to champion and challenge issues. Issues vital to the VI community. We’ve put together an incredibly talented team of VI people to bring this audio drama to life. Each one of them has poured their heart and soul into making sure we are honouring the stories of the victims and survivors who contributed to the Unseen Report. The learnings of the report need to be shouted far and wide, and we hope our audio drama can be part of that mission.”  

Helplines

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in Unseen, you can contact the following organisations via their websites and phone numbers below:

If you are in an emergency, please call 999.

Domestic Abuse:

Refuge Tel: 0808 2000 247   

National Helplines:

Northern Ireland Tel: 0808 802 1414 

Scotland Tel: 0800 027 1234 

Wales Tel: 0808 8010 800 

Men’s Advice Line Tel: 0808 8010327 

Galop LGBT+ Tel: 0800 999 5428 

Survivors UK Chat via SMS Text: 020 3322 1860  

Women’s Aid Email: [email protected]  

Mental Health:

Samaritans Tel: 116 123 (Lines open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free for landlines and mobile phones.) 

Mind Tel: 0300 123 3393 (Lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). Calls charged at the standard rates.) 

Shout Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 

With thanks to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Fight For Sight, Arts Council England, Refuge, SafeLives, Rising Sun, Care First, Camden People’s Theatre, RNIB and Jane Sellers.  

If you are able to support Extant, please donate here.

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