'MOTHER?' BY RACHEL STOCKDALE REVIEW

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the first-ever premiere of Rachel Stockdale’s brand-new play Mother? at the Stockton ARC.

Rachel Stockdale is a writer, actor and director from Middlesbrough. Her other works have included Fat Chance, Tub Time and Bin Day, all successes in their own right. This was my first experience with Stockdale’s work, and she had me hooked right from the off.

Mother?, written and performed by Rachel Stockdale, is an insight into the experience of raising children in the North East of England and wondering what a “mother” really is.

For this piece, Stockdale interviewed over 100 mams, mums and primary caregivers across the North East in places such as Redcar, Middlesbrough, Darlington and beyond.

Tracy Gilman’s direction allows Stockdale to be free within her own writing and the stories she tells through the play. It helps with clear shifts in location, character and thought, and together the pair have created something truly wonderful.

Rachel Stockdale’s writing for the play is incredibly unique. Taking snippets from each interview and segment of research she had done in preparation, what was showcased was a varied, funny, intelligent look into the world of motherhood in the North East. From struggling mums to happy adoptive mothers, the play both tugs on your heartstrings and leaves you cackling in your seat - all down to Stockdale’s careful selection of stories and phrases. Her play oozes passion for the subject, and you can feel the warmth that it brings to the room.

Stockdale’s performance was utter perfection. Not many performers can pull off a one-woman play with so many different characters. Not only was Stockdale portraying herself at times, but throughout she played lots of the people she had interviewed, deep-diving into their stories and retelling them to us, the audience. From my seat, I could see the connection that Stockdale has to this play - a quality you can only see when someone has written these words themselves. It’s a very endearing quality that will ensure that Mother? goes far.

I think this is a very important message to hear right now. Across the North East, and the world for that matter, mothers of all varieties are struggling through, having the time of their lives, or just celebrating little victories like a civil conversation - and no matter what, every experience is valid. Stockdale acknowledges everybody and gives them the space to be seen in her work.

This play is bound to be a great success locally with audiences in Stockton this week and at the Live Theatre in Newcastle later this month. But I do believe that, with a story so important, this could be a nationwide success at fringe festivals across the country.

Don’t miss your chance to see it before it takes off! Get your tickets for Stockton (19th June) here. Tickets for Newcastle (30th June) here.

New theatre is always a gamble, but with Rachel Stockdale at the helm, you’re definitely in for a treat.

19th June 2026

Robbie Davies | Robbie’s Backstage Bants