In the play The Shape of a Girl by Joan Macleod, Braidie, a sixteen-year-old girl is talking to her absent brother about growing up with her small group of friends who have committed acts of violence and bullying in the past. In The Shape of a Girl, Braidie jumps back in her past several times from the age of eight to a few weeks ago at sixteen. In the play, they discuss very real and very important issues to young people in our society. It exposes the lives and inner workings of female social groups, the effects of bullying on children and teens, and the complex roles of bystanders.
Braidie belongs to a group of friends made up of Adrienne, the leader, herself, a follower and close friend of Adrienne’s, Amber, another follower, and Sofie, the punching bag.…