priority

LIFI25: Why do we need to talk about domestic abuse?

16 Oct 2025

  • Tickets
    £10.00
  • Venue
    Courtyard
  • Running time
    90 mins
  • Age guidance
    16+

Domestic abuse is a now a national emergency, with 1 in 5 adults experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime.

This taboo subject is still shrouded in shame, with victims suffering in silence for fear of speaking out. How do we give a voice to those trapped in this devastating multi-generational cycle while empowering others to help?

Dissecting dominance and control, stigma, cultural norms, gender, and legal definitions, our panellists will explore why starting the conversation is critical. Join our panel of survivors, support providers, and experts, all speaking up and speaking out to break patterns of behaviours and reclaim control.

Priority booking

Priority booking is available for users with a Playhouse Pass, Priority Access, Supporters’ Club or Under 30s membership from 19 Jun 25 at 1pm. General booking will open on 24 Jun 25 at 12:30pm.

Please log in if you are eligible.

Book tickets

Thu 16 Oct
BSL
BSL Interpreted
CAP
Captioned
7.30pm

Who's who?

Victoria Derbyshire

Host

Andrew Pain

Speaker

Natasha Rattu

Speaker

Dame Nicole Jacobs

Speaker

Rachel Williams

Speaker

BIOGRAPHIES

Victoria Derbyshire is a BAFTA-award winning journalist and one of the most respected and recognisable broadcasters in the UK. She hosts the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme Newsnight. She has spoken openly about her own experience of growing up with domestic abuse and made a Panorama about the huge increase in domestic abuse related incidents during lockdown.

Andrew is a TEDx-acclaimed speaker, podcaster, award-winning campaigner for men
and boys, and a leading voice on men’s mental health and female-perpetrated domestic
abuse. His podcast, Men on Show, celebrates male heroes, exploring topics from PTSD to Gang Violence. Andrew works with diverse organisations from education institutions to Specsavers and HSBC.

Natasha Rattu is an award-winning domestic abuse campaigner, barrister, and
Executive Director at Karma Nirvana – an organisation lobbying to end UK Honour Based Abuse (HBA). Natasha has devoted her career to supporting victims of domestic and HBA, campaigning for changes to the law, police training, and national policy.

Since her appointment as Domestic Abuse Commissioner in September 2019, Dame
Nicole Jacobs has used her extensive experience in domestic abuse policy and practice to transform the response to domestic abuse across England and Wales. She
passionately champions the voices of victims and survivors and shines a light on the
systems that fail them.

After 18 years in an abusive relationship, culminating in being shot and her estranged husband and her son dying by suicide, Rachel Williams is now an inspirational
campaigner for domestic abuse victims and survivors. She founded SUTDA (Stand Up to Domestic Abuse) and is co-creator of Project Titanium (strengthen gun licensing procedures).

  • MAJOR FUNDERS

    Arts Council
  • Leeds City Council
  • LTB Foundation
  • Founded by UK government
  • Suppoprted by west Yorkshire
  • Principal Partner

    Caddick Group
  • Principal Access Partner

    Irwin Mitchell