Synopsis
★★★★★ Backstage Bristol ★★★★ StageTalk Magazine
A hilarious, nostalgic and heart breaking tale of one woman's descent into motherhood and mayhem. Set to a stunning soundtrack, Mother unfolds into a deeply personal experience, that will both enthral and unsettle.*
What the Audience said ...
Catherine G: "Fantastic script writing and acting 5* - so real and emotional."
Jack N: "Dynamic, engaging, unpredictable." 5*
Liz B: "Totally engrossing - really got pulled in to the story ..." 5*
Nat G: "Believable, familiar but surprising." 5*
Phil H: "Excellent performance by Emma - held your attention throughout." 5*
Neil J: "Absolutely superb. Funny, emotional, thought-provoking." 5*
John D: "An emotional rollercoaster!" 5*
Jeanette S: "Wow! Amazing! Very evocative rollercoaster." 5*
Sandy P: "Absolutely amazing. Emma blew my mind - so good. Writing was superb." 5*
Marie: "Powerful. Inventive use of props. Very intelligent performance." 5*
Rosie C: "I loved it. So clever and beautifully acted.Funny, dark, moving - what more could you want." 5*
Graham H: "A nostalgic, dark comedy ..." 5*
Sharon H: "Brilliant, relatable. Very moving at times but great with comedy. Well written and excellent performance by Emma." 5*
david@softsod.com 07968691221
Mother
Softsod
Reviews
STAGE TALK MAGAZINE 4* ~ "Mother is a hilarious, nostalgic and harrowing story of motherhood .. (which) transforms into a deeply personal experience that will shock and unsettle .."
BACKSTAGE BRISTOL 5* ~ "Mother is a gripping piece of theatre ... told through the perspective of Molly ... deftly portrayed in a thrilling and entertaining performance. It’s funny, dark and brings you in for a thrilling ride. This is all thanks to its clever writing combined with the wonderful performance of Emma Smart. You sense after a while that there’s a twist coming, but even if you look for clues the script manages to keep the surprise hidden well. Actor Emma Smart is simply marvellous. The writing demands a strong grip of comic timing, even when delving into some very dark issues. But, the standing ovation at the end was fully deserved.
About
Molly is over heating and can’t remember a damn thing. But with a little help from her family and much frivolity, she slowly recalls her incredible life story. A tale of lust, lies, Liebfraumilch and the dawning of a proper bleeding miracle. You’ll be delighted that you added Mother to your EdFringe 2024 shortlist.
Drawing on his early career as a mental health worker, writer and director David Martin creates characters that brim with human fallibility. Molly is no exception. Under the cover of laugh out loud humour and endearing humility, she is lost, vulnerable and yet unbelievably resilient. Her tale of motherhood, mayhem and the unstoppable crumbling of all that she has ever known, is both captivating and deeply moving.
Formed in 2016, Softsod Productions has been pursuing Molly’s story for seven years. It is the third part of a trilogy. A compelling story which started with Fragile Man (EdFringe 2017 ~ Pick of the Fringe), developed through UnSpoken (EdFringe 2018) and now seeks final resolution in Mother. Yet it stands alone - a twisting story of love and loss - 50 minutes of extremely satisfying theatre.
From Frank's patch of baldness to Lydia's patch of happiness and the silently spoken words of a broken promise, Molly finally sets the record straight. But which record? Which will you believe?