The Queer Motherhood Project

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Thu 19 Sep 2024 - Fri 20 Sep 2024

A new immersive theatre show in Birmingham is looking to create stories from real-life experiences of queer-identifying mums.

The Queer Motherhood Project will premiere the show which will bring together live music, video and spoken word at Midlands Arts Centre in September.



The project is an arts and research project by Mobilise Arts in partnership with MAC, DIVA, Shout Festival of Queer Arts and Culture, Birmingham Pride Community Foundation, the Sir Barry Jackson Trust and Arts Council England.

It is the brainchild of Dr Hannah Phillips, a queer mother, theatre-maker and director of Mobilise Arts in response to the Italian Government taking non-biological lesbian mothers off their children's birth certificates.

She says:“I was both angered and saddened by the news from the Italian Government and I want to give radical visibility to the lived experiences of a diversity of queer mothers who are often excluded from mainstream motherhood narratives. We want to hear the unique stories and experiences of queer-identifying mothers and invite them to take part via our website.”

The final work will form part of MAC’s Motherhood season, a collaboration between queer artists Hannah Phillips and Rachel Jones, and feature a video appearance by comedian, writer and actor Jen Brister.

MAC chief executive and artistic director Deborah Kermode says: “The theme of motherhood has been a universal subject across diverse cultures for centuries, however the acknowledgement and representation of the lived experiences of the LGBTQIA+ and Queer communities in relation to motherhood is woefully under-represented. This urgently needs to be re-addressed. To this end, MAC is thrilled to be working to support Dr Hannah Philips and Mobilise to present their ambitious new work as part of our Motherhood season where all narratives and ideas of motherhood are legitimately and joyfully celebrated.”

And Jen Brister adds: "As a lesbian mum who has no biological connection to my sons, I viscerally understand how important it is that the status of queer parents should be protected, their voices amplified and their experiences shared far and wide."

Those identifying as queer mothers can share their lived experiences via [LINK https://mobilisearts.fillout.com/queermotherhood] or those wanting to be photographed or filmed for a Vox Pop for the immersive show should contact Hannah via Mobilise Arts here.

To purchase tickets for the performances on September 19-20 visit here.

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