Amazingly thought-provoking, powerful and emotional, You Forgot The Mince was performed in Swindon on Saturday at the intimate Shoebox Theatre.

Theatre company and registered charity Imagine If was behind this production, which took us on a raw and honest journey between two young people, showing how their love for one another turned sour.

The was inspired by real life events and told the tale of a modern abusive relationship.

Set in Leeds and starring only three performers, all of whom were sensational, it grabbed me from the very start and didn’t let any of the small audience go until the very last word.

Written by Francesca Joy, who also performed the part of young Rosa, it was sassy as well as serious; humorous as well as heartbreaking.

Francesca is a fantastic actress with the sort of presence that commands your focus and her portrayal of a young girl who fell head over heels in love with Niko was completely believable.

Inseparable from the word go, their passion for one another is tested when Rosa gets a place at a university in London.

Niko ends up in prison and Rosa’s grandmother Lily is being kept completely in the dark about the sinister turn this young relationship starts to take.

Prince Plockey played unstable yet likeable Niko; a fantastic actor. His occasional poetic monologues throughout the performance were both flawless and breathtakingly impressive. He’s going places and is definitely one to watch.

This is a tale of domestic violence and the cycle of forgiveness that inevitably leads to constant repetition of disgraceful behaviour. Imagine If has toured this production around prisons as well as theatres to educate people about the impact these relationships can have.

The overwhelming message is that violence breeds violence and it’s a cycle that churns into motion before you even know what’s happening.

You Forgot The Mince is a brave piece of theatre. We all know that dark issues exist in our society but so many people prefer to turn a blind eye.

While it might make us uncomfortable to witness such life-like trauma, it’s exactly what is needed to make a difference

- Kelly Jobanputra