Chess Dillon-Reams today announced the premiere of M-Othering, a new physical, comedic dance piece performed by an intergenerational cast of women and girls aged 7-77. The production will run at The Old Market in Brighton from 30 – 31 May 2025, as part of the venue’s annual Reigning Women festival.
The cast includes Milly Bajpai, Martha Canning, Chess Dillon-Reams, Olive Engler, and Ellie Kavner, joined by a wider community cast featuring Dominique Baker, Arabelle Brusan, Emma Cotton, Tilli Cotton, Pippa Emanuel, Hannah Jones, Anna Hollingdale, Maria Kypreos, and Mabel Mallen-Evans.
Chess Dillon-Reams said, “It’s been a beautiful privilege to use the real relationships of those on stage as the inspiration for this work. Although stemming from deeply personal experience, M-Othering explores the universal need for care and tenderness, and opens a window to the beautiful nuances within varying female relationships. M-Othering is a celebration of intergenerational bonds, of motherly love in other forms, and the different types of care/relationships provided by close friends, teachers, mentors, godparents & siblings. The response from the sold-out preview audience was a testimony to the importance of the themes within the work. I hope to offer a space for audiences to connect with the importance of sharing women’s stories and the unsung/ often undervalued emotional work of women, the place dance and movement has in connecting us and the beauty of the journey towards learning how to mother ourselves.”
Chess Dillon-Reams presents M-Othering
Artistic Direction, Written & Choreographed by Chess Dillon-Reams Devising Performers: Milly Bajpai, Martha Canning, Olive Engler, and Ellie Kavner
Dramaturgical support: Ben Duke; Assistant Choreography: Wins Burnett-Smith; R&D Assistant Choreography: Martha Canning; Lighting Design: Zoé Ritchie; Costume Design: Chess Dillon-Reams, with support from Elen Agasiants; Music Design: Chess Dillon-Reams; Original Music: Alfie Dillon-Reams
Supported by Arts Council England, OUTBOUND, South East Dance, Dance East, and Varndean College.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.