unmothered → Dead Darling Theatre

 I am very lucky to share that I happened to see unmothered last year in its early stages of development. Even then, it was something special. Seeing the work now as part of the Fringe Festival, Dead Dealing Theatre has developed unmothered into a deeply affecting piece of theatre. 

unmothered was written and composed by Amelia Rooney, and is directed by Hannah Smith. Noella Grace Akimana and Eliza Barnes are also contributors to the writing process. unmothered explores the emotional inheritance passed between three generations of women. The piece unfolds as a song cycle, sewn together with vignettes of scenes that track the Daughter’s life, as well as flashbacks to Mother and Grandmother. 

In these roles are Lisa Lanzi as Grandmother, Katrina Ryan as Mother, and Jordan Bender as Daughter. Each woman handles the show’s tough themes with delicacy and a welcoming sense of gentleness. Their identities, fears and insecurities have been shaped by each other, and each character and their traumas are established with full dimension. 

As we follow her key life moments, Bender’s portrayal of Daughter was incredibly sincere. We see her transition from a child feigned by innocence, to her grieving the grandmother she wished she knew. What is also powerful about this character, is how once she is older, becomes the support her Mother needed. Bender nails the portrayal of this whole journey in the short length of the show, her vocals and monologues are expertly refined. 

Lanzi (Grandmother) and Ryan (Mother) present a polished dynamic, especially as characters who have the most tension between them. Their scenes, whether together or alone, are deeply impactful. Their harmonies and individual emotive displays cause the audience to feel their sympathies. 

Throughout the show, the cast are often on stage together, layering their singing and dialogue to accentuate their generational differences. This created a trance-like web of memories that flowed throughout the work. To signal these jumps in time, the lighting would switch in hue to correspond with memory or reality. 

Rooney’s indie-folk inspired score beautifully runs throughout the work. It brings a sense of comforting peace. When the women harmonise as a trio, the blend of their voices is truly stunning, and will evoke either goosebumps or a tear (in their final song especially!). 

unmothered is reflective and tender, creating an intimate narrative in which to experience. I am eager to follow its next stages!

- by Sophie Tsoulos