It All Begins With Love

It All Begins With Love is a verbatim theatre production presenting real life stories about domestic and family violence. 

The production presents five women’s stories drawn from real words of real victims and survivors of domestic and family violence together with a Q&A session facilitated by a professional counsellor after the show.

The production premiered in Bundaberg in 2014 then toured to 17 locations in regional Queensland in 2015.

The script is published by Playlab.

Creative Regions began working with the Domestic Violence (DV) Forum members in Bundaberg in 2011 through the Regional Stages Project (funded by Australia Council, Arts Queensland and Bundaberg Regional Council) to investigate ways that the performing arts could be used as an intervention strategy around DV issues in the region.

The play has been meticulously developed over three years in partnership with a range of domestic and family violence service providers including Relationships Australia and UnitingCare Community.

Feedback:

I did enjoy the production and the night…although enjoy may not be the correct word. It was very well put together and realistic and confronting all at the same time, and it is one of those productions that will stay with the viewer for a long long time after the last scene is completed. – Ron Van Saane, Police Superintendent, Capricornia District

… congratulations once again on a brilliant production.  The production was excellent at all levels, from the staging, writing, casting and delivery, and is a credit to all involved. – John Rosewarne, Chair, White Ribbon Australia

Extremely powerful performance. The actors showed the different personality types all sharing a common horror. It touched me personally from 30 years ago… I hadn’t realised it as abuse but felt it tonight. – Anonymous

I felt that the show was an outstanding teaching moment for us with our young people.  It was excellent for the Drama students but, if I had any reservation, it was that I did not have the whole school attend.  Young people need to be aware of this issue and to make a commitment to themselves that they will never stand by and watch DV happen to themselves or to those that they love. – Dan McMahon, Principal, Shalom College, Bundaberg

I saw a part of my story in every one of those characters. It was hard to watch, but thank you! – Anonymous

What an amazing night. I think this excellent and moving production’s message will spread far and wide. – Trish Mears, General Manager, Bundaberg Broadcasters

This project is bigger than all of us. Kudos to this team. May your message travel far. – Anonymous

I’ve been to every professional development opportunity in the country it seems, and I was very cynical about another role play. But I’ve never seen anything like this. Congratulations. – Senior Constable – Queensland Police Service