Open to Mothers working in Theatre, this dynamic day of discussion will begin with a writing provocation from Jane Upton, that gets under the skin of the themes of her upcoming play (the) Woman, with an opportunity to write a response. Followed by an OPEN SPACE workshop facilitated by Beccy D’Souza and Angharad Jones, an invitation for Mothers in Theatre to think, talk and take action.
The group will also be invited to reunite at 6pm on Monday 10 March to chat and share stories and thoughts before the performance of (the) Woman at 7.30pm.
This workshop is open to Amplify Members and Midlands artists who are mothers. Amplify members will need to log into your online account to book, or contact box office directly. If you’re not currently part of Amplify and would like to book please get in touch with Beccy directly – beccy.dsouza.01@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Teas and coffees will be provided (please bring your own lunch) and children under 5 can tag along to the workshop if childcare is a barrier to attendance. (Please note the play and its themes are for ages 15+). Please indicate when booking whether you intend to bring children so we have an idea of numbers.
Plays include The Price of Home (Paines Plough & Derby Theatre: Come to Where I Am, S6); Finding Nana (Pleasance Edinburgh Festival, dir Katie Posner, New Perspectives), All the Little Lights (Fifth Word, UK tour, Arcola Theatre), Watching the Living – an adaptation of two short stories by Daphne Du Maurier (New Perspectives, UK tour), Swimming (Menagerie Theatre, Hotbed Festival, Soho Theatre and Edinburgh Festival), and Bones (Fifth Word, Edinburgh Festival and UK tour). Jane is currently writing (the) woman shortlisted for the Bruntwood Award, for New Perspectives.
Following Paines Plough’s nomination, Jane Upton is the winner of the Adopt a Playwright Award for her next play.
All the Little Lights was nominated Best Play for the 2019 OFFIES and for the 2017 Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards; it was joint winner of the 2016 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright. The play is published by Nick Hern Books. Jane received a bursary from the Peggy Ramsay Foundation and was shortlisted for CBBC New Voices Initiative.
Angharad joined touring company New Perspectives as Artist Director and CEO in October 2021. Formerly she co-founded Fifth Word and was joint Artistic Director for 15 years.
Angharad’s directing credits include:
For New Perspectives: Model Village (UK tour); The Swearing Jar (UK tour); The Great Almighty Gill (Edinburgh Fringe/UK tour); script in hand reading of MARYLAND; The Fishermen (Associate Director, world premiere tour and West End run).
For Fifth Word: LAVA by James Fritz (world premiere Nottingham Playhouse, Soho & UK tour); All The Little Lights by Jane Upton (Associate Director, Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour – joint winner of the George Devine Award and nominated for Best New Play at the Writers’ Guild Awards); Bones (Edinburgh Fringe/Tristan Bates Theatre/UK tour); Painkillers (Edinbugh Fringe & UK tour).
Beccy D’Souza is currently the Artist Development Producer at Nottingham Playhouse, managing and curating professional development opportunities for Midlands connected artists working in theatre. They are a mother of three children aged under 12, and experienced as a freelance actor, producer, director, dramaturg and access support worker with a career in theatre spanning over 20 years.