Drink-spiking drama heads for nightlife venues

Taking a hard-headed look at the growing issue of drink spiking, Leeds-based theatre company Rebel Roots will tour West Yorkshire next month with Aftermath, a drama set in the backdrop of nightlife culture.

As his daughter, Layla (Lottie Burns), prepares to leave home for university, devoted father David (Richard Koslowsky) is forced to confront the realities young women face every day .

Producer and actor Tyler Pickles, who plays Ethan

Director Connie Peel says, “We want to show the frightening new struggles of young women - and men - as the drink-spiking epidemic continues to haunt nightlife in the UK.

"By telling this story through a family situation, we hope to encourage communication, awareness and unity across generations.”

The project is sponsored by Counterspike, an organisation dedicated to preventing spiking and promoting safer nightlife environments.

Aftermath is actor and writer Lottie Burns’ debut script. She said: “The inspiration came from the rising number of spiking incidents that started to gain public attention in the early 2020s, during my time at uni.

"I was in the girls' bathroom; normally an environment in which women look after each other. But it was so different: there were girls asking each other to check their arms for what they thought were pin pricks. Even if they hadn't been spiked, it was just terrifying because we

couldn't enjoy the night.

Lottie Burns, who wrote the show and plays Layla.

"So I want the play to be a conversation starter - as it has been for the creative team. I really appreciate how open everyone who has helped us get to this point has been.”

The story also delves in to the male prospective and the stories of Layla's father, David, and brother, Ethan, to allow men to enter the conversation.

"David's prominence in the piece was inspired by a conversation Lottie had with her father", said producer Tyler. "He had bought her a rape alarm before uni. At first they had a casual conversation about it, but eventually realised that shouldn't be normal. Her dad even wrote a Facebook post about how things needed to change."

The tour comes as concerns about spiking continue to grow, with incidents having increased fivefold in the past five years. By taking the production directly into nightlife venues and community spaces, Rebel Roots hopes to reach audiences where these conversations are most needed.

More info, venues and tickets here