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

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 by the Vision Foundation, which highlighted the inaccessibility of domestic abuse services to visually impaired people, even though disabled people are nearly three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled people.  

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with three of the VI creative team behind Unseen, Ben Wilson , Extant’s Trainee Artistic Director who Directed Unseen, Actor Georgie Morrell who plays Lucy one of the main characters and the drama’s Sound Designer Ian Rattray to find out more about the background and creation of Unseen.

Unseen launches on Monday 4 March 2024 at the beginning of NO MORE week which raises awareness on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence and inspires individuals, organisations and communities to make change and in the 50th anniversary year of Women’s Aid.

Unseen, the audio drama, will be available to stream for free from 4th March 2024 on the Extant website via the following link where you will also find details of telephone numbers of organisations that are there to help and support anyone who might be affected by the content and topics raised in Unseen - https://extant.org.uk/unseen 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, then support is available.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the police.

If you are not in immediate danger, please call one of the following helplines: 

In England: Freephone 0808 2000 247

In Northern Ireland: Freephone 0808 802 1414

In Wales: Freephone 0808 8010 800

And In Scotland: Freephone 0800 027 1234

(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)