Project: Mother

Mother is a perverse, ironic show that portrays motherhood as an extreme experience. It follows young mothers as they discover the bright and dark sides of motherhood and as they face societal expectations. Can a loving mother allow herself a moment of weakness? Can she let herself feel helpless and confused, angry and frustrated? Is it acceptable to display emotions? The performance shows how mothers function within our society. It examines if they have the space and conditions to freely express themselves and get their needs met, and asks if they receive government support in caring for children and returning to work. It also explores the challenging process in which a relationship develops between mother and child – the attendant inner conflicts and the right to experience them. All this is told in an unexpected, funny, unorthodox way. The show was developed based on mothers’ blogs and the actresses’ own experiences.

In April 2016, the Kana Theatre started rehearsals for Father, conceived as young fathers’ response to Mother.

• The Kana Theatre
• Writer, adaptation, director ― Mateusz Przyłęcki
• Performers ― Bibianna Chimiak, Marta Giers-Sanecka, Karolina Sabat
• Music ― Andrzej Bonarek, Konrad Cwajda (song with lyrics by Mama Rysiowa), Piotr Starzyński, Mateusz Przyłęcki (rap song inspired by Hollie McNish’s poem Embarrassed, based on a translation by Grzegorz Czuchaj)
• Drawings ― Gustaw Grygier
• Animation ― Piotr Starzyński
• Cinematography, editing ― Krzysztof Sanecki
• Premiere ― 19 September 2014