The Last Word is an interactive performance on coercive control, stalking and domestic homicide which was originally commissioned and performed to hundreds of probation staff throughout the UK in 2019. The piece follows the fictional story of Carl, his partner Leona, their children, and the probation staff who come into contact with the family.
Using Dr. Jane Monckton Smith’s ground-breaking research on domestic homicide as a basis, the piece gives audience members a greater understanding of the associated risk factors and chronology.
Audience members are asked to discuss how the staff who supervise Carl might engage with and monitor him and how they might work together with other agencies to prioritise the family’s safety. This emotionally charged piece also allows the audience to see into Carl’s world, away from his interaction with professionals, and the devastating impact his behaviour has on his family.
