Girls Like That: Powerful Story Telling

The recent youth theatre performance at the Saddleworth Millgate Arts Centre of Girls Like That was striking, unsettling, and deeply thought-provoking. Performed by a cast of eight young women, the production held the stage with confidence and clarity, exploring themes that feel both urgently modern and historically rooted: social media, bullying, sexism, and the enduring strength of women across generations.

At its centre was a story that felt all too familiar. A single photograph posted online becomes the catalyst for a wave of social media bullying. What begins with one or two voices quickly grows, as others join in—not necessarily with malice at first, but through something more subtle and perhaps more troubling: the pull of the crowd.

What made the performance particularly powerful was how naturally this escalation unfolded. The girls did not appear as villains in the traditional sense. Instead, they seemed caught up in a shared momentum, where responsibility blurred, and individual judgment gave way to group behaviour. The ease with which they participated—through messages, comments, and posts—was chilling. There was no need for confrontation, no face-to-face cruelty. Just a few words, typed and sent in seconds, were enough to contribute to something much larger and more damaging.

At moments, it felt as though the group was waiting—consciously or not—for the bullied girl to reach breaking point. That implication was deeply disturbing. It raises uncomfortable questions about how desensitised we may be becoming to the consequences of our words, particularly in digital spaces where reactions are unseen, and empathy can feel distant.

Yet the play did not leave us without hope. The girl at the centre of the bullying was portrayed not as a victim alone, but as someone resilient and reflective. Drawing strength from the stories of women in her own family, she grounded herself in a wider history of perseverance and resistance. In doing so, the narrative connected contemporary struggles with those faced by women in the past—particularly around sexism in the workplace and the pursuit of personal passions.

This interplay between past and present was one of the production’s strongest elements. It suggested that while the platforms and pressures may have changed, the need for inner strength and solidarity remains constant.

During the interval, a conversation with family brought another layer of reflection. Social media, we agreed, is not simply harmful—it is also a powerful tool for connection. Young people today can maintain wide circles of friends, communicating instantly and frequently in ways that were unimaginable in previous generations. Where once friendships might have relied on occasional phone calls or school interactions, they are now sustained continuously through messaging and online platforms.

But this constant connectivity comes with a cost. The same immediacy that allows for support and companionship also enables harm to spread quickly and widely. Hurtful words can be delivered in an instant, amplified by others, and experienced repeatedly. There is no clear boundary between public and private, school and home. The impact can be relentless.

What Girls Talk captured so effectively was this duality: connection and cruelty existing side by side, often within the same spaces and among the same people.

The audience response, at least outwardly, was quiet. There was no immediate buzz of conversation overheard afterwards. But perhaps that silence spoke volumes. Some performances do not provoke instant discussion; instead, they linger, prompting reflection that unfolds later, in smaller, more personal conversations. That was certainly the case here.

This was youth theatre at its most impactful—not simply performing a story but holding up a mirror to contemporary life and inviting us to look closely. It challenged assumptions, exposed uncomfortable truths, and ultimately reminded us of the importance of empathy, awareness, and resilience in an increasingly connected world.

A powerful and important piece of theatre.

PS: With the advent of AI, how easy would it be to create a concerning image and for it to go viral?