A DEVELOPING THEATRE-LED INITIATIVE
Bullying happens in childhood.
Its consequences can last a lifetime.
The Babushka Project is a developing theatre-led anti-bullying initiative founded by writer and performer Suzanne Pearson. It uses theatre, lived experience and collaboration with educators to improve how childhood bullying — and its lifelong impact — is understood and addressed.
Sat 29 August 2026 · 7pm · Old Library Studio Theatre, Corn Exchange Newbury
Theatre. Conversation. Change.
The Babushka Project is a theatre-led initiative exploring the lifelong impact of childhood bullying. It began with one autobiographical play, and is growing into something wider: a way of using theatre, lived experience and collaboration with educators to help schools and communities understand what children carry into adult life — and to raise awareness of why the longer-term impact of childhood bullying deserves more attention.
Theatre
At its centre is Babushka — One Woman. 2 Lives. Multiple Layers., Suzanne’s autobiographical two-performer play. Adult Suzanne is confronted by ‘15’, the angry, uncompromising fifteen-year-old self she has spent decades trying to bury.
Conversation
Every rehearsed reading is followed by an informal conversation. Teachers, SENCos, safeguarding and pastoral staff are especially invited to share professional insight that helps shape what comes next.
Change
Insight from every reading feeds back into the Project: shaping future pilots with schools, the development of the play, and a clearer, kinder understanding of what childhood bullying leaves behind.
Where things stand
This is early-stage, honest work. The Project is currently developing the play through rehearsed readings and conversation with educators — it does not yet run proven or accredited school workshops, and Edinburgh Fringe 2027 is an artistic ambition, not a booking. We would rather be honest about where we are than pretend the work is finished.
Babushka.
One Woman. 2 Lives. Multiple Layers.
Babushka is a new autobiographical play written by Suzanne Pearson and brought to the stage by two performers. Adult Suzanne is confronted by ‘15’, the angry, uncompromising fifteen-year-old self she has spent decades trying to bury — and the two of them have to find a way to talk to each other.
The play explores childhood bullying, memory, survival, humour, and the long-term impact of what children carry into adult life. This rehearsed reading is not a finished production — it is an early step in developing the work, followed by an informal conversation with the audience about what Babushka should become.
PERFORMANCE INFO
The Old Library Studio Theatre, Corn Exchange Newbury
A rehearsed reading of Suzanne Pearson's autobiographical two-performer play, followed by an informal conversation with the audience about what Babushka should become next. Free tickets, spaces limited — please apply in advance.
General audience
Teachers & school staff
An invitation to educators.
Teachers, school leaders, SENCos, and pastoral, safeguarding, inclusion, PSHE, wellbeing and behaviour teams are especially welcome at Babushka. Your professional insight matters here. This is a genuine invitation to talk, share what you see in schools, and help shape what The Babushka Project’s education work becomes.
What this is
A genuine invitation to a conversation about what you see in schools.
A chance to help shape future pilots with real classroom insight.
An invitation to see the rehearsed reading and respond honestly.
What this isn’t - yet
A proven or accredited school workshop programme.
Individual casework, safeguarding intervention or crisis support.
A finished curriculum: this work is developed with you, not delivered at you.
I cannot build this alone.
“The Babushka Project is still growing, and I know I cannot build it alone. If you have relevant experience, practical skills or a connection that could help, I would be very happy to hear from you.”
— Suzanne Pearson
Education insight and introductions to schools or education networks
Research, evaluation and evidence gathering
Theatre, producing and creative-development support
Photography, video, design and communications
Funding research or application support
Event-day, administration or practical project support
Tell us a little about you
Please don’t share detailed accounts of bullying or trauma here — this form is for starting a practical conversation. Involvement is developing, and will always be shaped by a conversation about suitability, boundaries and what the Project actually needs.
ABOUT SUZANNE
Writer, performer, founder.
Suzanne Pearson is a writer, performer and the founder of The Babushka Project. Babushka is her first full-length play — an attempt to put words to something she carried quietly for a long time: what it does to a person when childhood bullying is never really addressed.
She was diagnosed as AuDHD later in life, an experience that reshaped how she understands her own childhood, and how she thinks about the young people schools can sometimes miss. She holds an MA in Creative Practice, and works between writing, performance and community organising as the founder of Kindness in Motion CIC.
She started The Babushka Project because she didn’t want her experience to stay filed away as “in the past.” She would rather use it — carefully, honestly, and without turning it into a headline — to open a different kind of conversation about what children carry, and what adults can learn to see.
“This is a serious Project, but it is also a human one. I am part of the reason it exists.”
If any of this feels close to home
Some visitors recognise themselves in Babushka, or realise that things they dismissed years ago are still affecting them. That’s a normal response to honest work about childhood bullying, and it’s okay if this page is why you’re here.
The Babushka Project is not a crisis service, a therapy provider or a safeguarding intervention, and it does not offer individual casework. If you need urgent help, please use the routes below or contact a GP or other qualified professional.
In an emergency — 999
If you or someone else is in immediate danger.
Samaritans — 116 123
Free, 24/7, whatever you’re going through.
NHS 111
Urgent, non-emergency health advice, online or by phone, any time.
Anti-Bullying Alliance
National Autistic Society
You do not need to share any personal details with us to ask a general question. These links are reviewed periodically and are never presented as personal endorsements.
Say hello.
Whether you have a question, a press enquiry, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you. For booking the rehearsed reading, see The Play above; for volunteering, research or partnership enquiries, see Get Involved.
Kindness in Motion CIC is the Community Interest Company behind The Babushka Project. It is not a charity.