Joanna Pickering’s solo play Don’t Harm the Animals is about to be released as an audio recording across major platforms.
Jane is recovering from the aftermath of a serious sexual assault. A woman living with PTSD and anxiety. A woman who pushes away every attempt to help or be kind until she finds herself on a mountain, accepting a lift.
First performed by Pickering at the Hay Festival in May, the play has now been adapted into an audio recording, recorded at Sean Lennon’s studio and due for release across major platforms soon.
At just 20 minutes, Don’t Harm the Animals returns to Pickering’s childhood activism against animal abuse, as well as the sexual assault she endured more recently. During a car journey with a woman and her 11 dogs, Jane tries to find solace in her memories, but she’s triggered, trapped in fight-or-flight mode.
The play follows Jane through the animals she has encountered over the years – a horse, a hamster – and ultimately the dog who forces her to confront her deepest fear.
The writing is strong, tense and unflinchingly honest. Jane’s flashes of memory. The rawness of her mental state, as sore as the blisters on her feet. The lack of control. The triggers. And the #MeToo pioneer who asked only for an apology after Jane shared her experience with her.
The police who asked questions suggesting the rape may have been Jane’s fault. The sounds of the night. The rising sickness of an experience half-forgotten. The male friend who misjudged the situation.
Jane, the animal lover. The victim, not the criminal. A life without animals. A reminder that they can trigger the worst reactions as easily as they can offer comfort. The sudden ending leaves us wanting more.
I watched a video of the Hay performance, directed by Philip John, as well as listening to the audio version, and they are two very different experiences. Watching Pickering – seated throughout the performance I viewed – provides a visual route into Jane’s emotional state and physical reactions. The audio version is tighter, more controlled and carefully paced, but no less affecting. If anything, the absence of visuals forces the audience to sit more closely with Jane’s thoughts.
Don’t Harm the Animals premiered at the Chain Theatre in New York, where it was described as “a powerhouse of a performance”. By exploring the lack of understanding shown to victims of rape and the reality of secondary victimisation, it opens up an important conversation about the lasting impact of sexual violence long after the crime itself.
Pickering’s writing also highlights the significance of touch and memory. The softness of fur and the way animals communicate through paws and tongues become entwined with the mechanics of an unwanted sexual encounter, illustrating how even innocent physical contact can become a trigger.
First developed in 2023 as part of a collection of monologues addressing sexual violence for Annie Lennox’s charity, The Circle, Don’t Harm the Animals has evolved into a powerful standalone solo play.
Pickering is a multi-award-winning playwright and actress whose work centres on strong female narratives and advocacy for women’s rights. She has secured a three-play deal for 2026, to be produced by a Broadway award-winning team.
Her work also spans other subjects. Lara’s Journey was live-streamed to more than a million viewers to raise awareness of Ukrainian refugees. Her upcoming novel Jen Z explores a deadly obsession with a law firm boss, while her trilogy of plays, Truth, Lies and Deception, examines darker themes around careers and holidays from a female perspective.
You can find out more details on Joanna Pickering’s work at https://www.joannapickering.com/.