The Adelaide Fringe is set to captivate audiences with ‘Shhh! – Motherhood, Mayhem and Emotional Cabbage’, a show that promises a profound and hilarious exploration of motherhood, mental health, and the multigenerational echoes of postnatal distress.
Created and performed by the talented Lisa Brickell from New Zealand alongside musician and actor Siri Embla of Norway, composed by Sarah Macombee and directed by Ruth Dudding (NZ) and Giovanni Fusetti (Italy), this show is a bold mix of physical theatre, storytelling, and live music, and is for anyone connected to motherhood—whether as a mother, having a mother, or contemplating motherhood.
At the heart of ‘Shhh!’ is the story of Tina, a character who grapples with the decision of motherhood against a backdrop of her family history of postnatal depression. Brickell, using a Commedia dell’arte style half mask, brings to life four generations of characters, seamlessly weaving between them to portray their inner critics with humour and depth.
Brickell’s personal narratives, intertwined with those of other women, form the foundation of the show, which draws on the research of Dr Diana Jefferies from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University and delves into the historical experiences of women at Sydney’s Callan Park and Gladesville Hospitals.
The show’s relevance is amplified by its collaboration with mental health organisations and the endorsement of Taimi Allan, the Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia, who highlights the importance of sharing lived experience to dismantle the stigma around mental health issues.
‘Helping people to share those experiences, through the powerful and engaging medium of theatre and sensitive use of humour, is a wonderful way to gain empathy and understanding rather than sympathy from audiences’, says Allan.
Audiences are invited to join a journey that Alex Bonham of What’s Good, Auckland describes as ‘the most wonderful show, deeply moving, hysterically funny with a twist that takes you to the darkest of places and returns you to the light.’ Sam Baran from Sambaranmedia, Sydney, also praises the show as a ‘clever, sensitive exploration of mental health—it sheds light on an issue that affects many people but remains taboo even in our modern society.’
Brickell, a Lecoq-trained professional in comedy, mask work, and physical theatre with a MA in Drama from Auckland University, was inspired to create ‘Shhh!’ from her own story and those of her female ancestors. The show aims to break the silence on mental health and suicide, hoping to foster understanding and initiate social change through the power of the arts.
Running from Friday the 16th to Sunday the 25th of February, tickets are now available for ‘Shhh! – Motherhood, Mayhem and Emotional Cabbage’ via the link below. This is a show and a movement towards understanding, empathy, and, ultimately, a step towards reducing the rates of depression, psychosis, and suicide.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this extraordinary blend of laughter, tears, and thought-provoking theatre.
What: Shhh! – Motherhood, Mayhem and Emotional Cabbage.
Where: Garage International at Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King William Street, Adelaide, 5000.
When: Friday 16th to Sunday 25th of February.
For tickets and more info, click here or via Facebook.
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