ATN Review: A Mother Speaks
Written and performed by Judd Batchelor Hackney Empire,
reviewed by Sophia Jackson, editor/founder Afridiziak’s Theatre News, October 2008

This is your last chance to see Judd Batchelor’s phenomenal play, A Mother Speaks. It first toured earlier this year and received rave reviews for its powerful portrayal of a mother dealing with the loss of her child. The play is a monologue which starts with the arrival of the mother’s baby boy, Gavin and the joy that comes with one of life’s greatest blessings, the gift of life. 

The story unfolds, dipping in out of the mother’s memory bank as she recalls the good times and the bad times; from Gavin’s first day at school to the discovery that her son is having sex. What makes this play so powerful is Judd’s raw emotion in how she expresses and articulates how a mother’s life is transformed from the phone call telling her that her child is dead.

This year, 24 young people have already lost their lives to gun and knife crime in this country and the play helps the audience to connect with the pain that is associated with the loss of a child.

Judd will now be focusing on getting the book version of A Mother Speaks in schools, community groups and read by as many people as possible. For more information, contact simonjamescollier@googlemail.com
Sophia Jackson, editor/founder Afridiziak’s Theatre News

A Mother Speaks is showing at the Hackney Empire until 5 October '08 | Box office: +44 (0) 20 8985 2424 | Ticket prices:£12.00 Full, £9.00 Concession, £5.00 Groups of 10+ | www.hackneyempire.co.uk | info@hackneyempire.co.uk