Sonny, 18, is a vegetarian who has always been concerned about the environment and animal rights. His sister Anita, 21, is a carnivorous scientist completely convinced that using animals in medical research is justified. As a gripping family drama unfolds, Sonny’s future plans, and his principles, are put to the test, when his health takes a turn for the worse…

Set against an instantly recognisable background of family life and pressures, Judith Johnson’s play takes a difficult subject and looks at both sides of the argument. The result is a thought-provoking, even-handed debate on one of the most divisive of contemporary issues.

The live production and debate of Every Breath had four tours to schools throughout the UK and has been seen by over 20,000 students and teachers. The 2006 July/September tour started with a three-week run at the Hill Street Theatre, 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The project was developed to raise the level of the debate about the use of animals in medical research at a time when extremism was capturing the headlines, and sensible dialogue risked being stifled by fear.

Every Breath was filmed, funded by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).