"Four names. Four narratives. Four chances to crack that dang safe, and one opportunity for me to crack the truth right open. I’m going to need to take this way back, before secrets got spilled, before tempers snapped. Let’s figure out how we got here…"

Detective Noa R. is on the case in this Film Noir-inspired whodunit that follows four high schoolers struggling to build (or rebuild) relationships and clarify their boundaries. Inspired by Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, A Safe Place To Fall Apart explores what happens when the balance of give and take in a relationship gets out of sync. It encourages audiences to explore: Where’s the line between helping someone you care about and compromising your own future and well-being? This play helps youth identify teen economic abuse, learn to set and enforce boundaries, and see healthy examples of young people communicating their needs all through a fun Film Noir lens.

Since 2003, Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble has toured original plays written and performed by high school students. Our plays spark peer-to-peer dialogue about healthy relationships and interpersonal violence, including dating violence and bullying. CLYTE is a program of Creative Action and Expect Respect, a program of The SAFE Alliance.

This project is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.

CLYTE Presents: A Safe Place to Fall Apart

Written and Performed by the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble