Dating violence and abuse have a devastating impact – young victims and witnesses have a dramatically increased risk of academic failure, unemployment, depression, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. Parents and teachers often lack the awareness and resources to respond to these problems. Youth, who are often more aware of their peers' problems than adults, can find themselves in a painfully powerless position, watching from the sidelines with no idea how to help. Youth and adults need more education regarding critical issues related to healthy relationships in a format that is interesting, engaging, and accessible.

The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble is a very unique and exciting program that TAP and SafePlace created to address these social problems now, and to train leaders to generate solutions for them in the future. This program puts the powerful tools of peer education and theatre in the hands of youth and adults who want to stop the cycles of domestic and dating violence.

Each year a group of paid teen actors create an original interactive play to tour the Central Texas Area. It is free to book the youth ensemble to perform at your school, church or community center.

Contact Nitra at nitra@theatreactionproject.org to book the ensemble to perform at your site or if you are interested in joining the group.

Click here to read The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble Blog!

Here is the schedule for the youth so far this year:

A few facts about The Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble:

• Currently, the project is year-round with 18 youth working on the productions

• All performers are paid employees of Theatre Action Project

• Since 2003, over 12,000 people have seen the youth company perform

A recent SafePlace study of greater Austin middle and high school students showed:

• 48% had a friend in an abusive relationship
• 44% had experienced domestic violence
• 43% had a friend who had been sexually assaulted
• 41% had been sexually harassed at school
• 28% had been hurt or threatened by a dating partner