Missmanaged Theatre make their debut with Rattled, a vital new piece of writing exploring childhood trauma and postnatal mental health. This one-woman show puts childhood trauma under the microscope and reviews its effect on adult life in a witty examination of mental health, self-preservation and human resilience.
Rattled was created after a heart-breaking confession about motherhood inspired writer Rachel Harper to further explore postnatal mental health. Together with working mum and director Jemma Gross, they were inspired to actively help new mothers on and off stage by partnering with Bea & Co to make theatre more accessible. This bespoke childcare agency will be offering free childcare to those attending Sunday matinees and at-home discounted childcare to audience members attending evening shows.
Rattled looks at isolation and loneliness in busy cities and the effect this has mentally on someone who has already experienced terrible trauma. It puts the spotlight on postnatal mental health, on the lack of awareness of this often under-reported issue, and the lack of support for new mothers in the UK.
Em never meant to get married. She didn’t mean to be unhappy. It all just sort of happened by accident. Now, standing alone on the edge of a train station platform, she just wants to know… whose baby is this? Rattled takes the audience on a darkly funny journey through the events that led to Em standing alone on a station platform at her lowest ebb.
Rachel Harper comments, After workshopping a play last year about postnatal mental health, a mother made one of the most heart breaking confessions to me. As a writer and a big advocate for mental health I knew I had to share that story. We’ve all struggled, we’ve all had very dark days and this play is not shy in laughing or crying about it. I’m excited to champion an all female-identifying creative team and a story that lays tragedy bare.
Catherine Chalk and Rachel Harper, the founders of Missmanaged Theatre Company, first met as two creatives working in front of house roles. This is a job that many creatives are familiar with, and so Missmanaged will be offering discounted tickets to Saturday matinee performances to any Front of House workers. There will also be a post-show Q&A with the director, producer, and writer on how to create your own work and space in this industry. Front of house workers will also be eligible for concessions and discounts throughout the run.
As the UK has a national gender wage gap median of 18.4%, the company will also hold Wage Gap Wednesdays whereby any female-identifying patrons will receive a 18.4% discount.
To show support for new mothers in the UK, we are welcoming babes in arms to the Wednesday and Sunday matinees, which are relaxed performances.
Rattled is at The Old Red Lion Theatre Tuesday 12th February – Saturday 2nd March 2019.
