Jane Upton’s play about her experiences losing herself in the transition from single woman to motherhood, (the) Woman, is to première in Northampton before going on a short tour.
Upton said, “I started writing this play years ago when I was in a particularly vulnerable state of early motherhood, trying so hard to be the best I could.
“A boy—now a middle-aged man—I went out with at school told my brother he’d expected more from me than having kids in my hometown. I was both livid and broken. With a swollen body and no sleep, I started pouring all my anger and fear into the first scene of this play and built the rest from there.
“People have told me I’m brave to write about motherhood because it’s not sexy, which says it all really. This play is full of so many things I’ve wanted to scream from my cage. It’s about more than motherhood and it’s NOT just for women. I want men to see this play.”
New Perspectives and Northampton’s Royal and Derngate will co-produce (the) Woman. New Perspectives artistic director Angharad Jones will direct.
Jones said, “when Jane brought this play to me, as both a woman in this industry and as a mother, I felt utterly seen and totally understood. This exceptional new play is a pipeline through the ground with a megaphone on the end of it screaming the truth of all women and mothers who feel suffocated or unsure. It’s formally playful, inherently theatrical and will make for an unforgettable experience.
“This play has gone through development with rigour and care and with support from National Theatre’s Generate programme and a host of creatives. I feel privileged to bring this story to UK stages with a special connection to our home in the Midlands.”
Lizzy Watts, who plays M, appeared as Naomi in Phoebe Eclair-Powell’s Shed: Exploded View at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in 2024 and played the title role in the National Theatre’s production of Patrick Marber’s version of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler in 2018. She will be joined by Jamie-Rose Monk, Cian Barry and André Squire.
The creative team includes dramaturg Sarah Dickenson, set and costume designer Sara Perks, lighting designer Lily Woodford, sound designer Bella Kear, projection designer Matt Powell, assistant director Jessy Roberts and casting director Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG.
(the) Woman will run at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate from Thursday 13 until Saturday 15 February, The North Wall, Oxford on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 February, Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February, Birmingham Rep on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 March, Nottingham Playhouse on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 March, Connaught Theatre, Worthing on Thursday 13 March and The Exchange, Twickenham on Saturday 15 March.