Mothers Out Front (2019)

Sole Purpose Productions and Zero Waste North West present

Mothers Out Front 
by Edie Shillue
Produced and Directed by Patricia Byrne
Performed by Abby Oliveira, Carmel McCafferty and Muire McCallion

What happens when women get fed up?

After five years of ‘thinking globally and acting locally’, to raise awareness of climate change three women –tired of being ignored- decide to protest in Dublin. The protest coincides with a global economic summit. One woman takes a wrong turn, ends up at the summit and decides to singlehandedly change the protest. She kidnaps a certain American, determined to exchange him for a 'different' type of ransom. 

How far would you go to save the only planet you ever had? 

“Mothers Out Front’ is a truly amazing production with three of the best actors who work brilliantly together. Comedy and tragedy getting the message of our climate emergency out there. Wonderfully written!”

Clare Cregan, audience member

We had a brilliant tour of Mothers Out Front in May 2019, with great audience responses and standing ovations. The project was a great success!

“I loved ‘Mothers Out Front’. I took some pupils to see it. Thoroughly enjoyable and educational. Excellent performances from three fabulous women.”  

Greta McTague, Head of Drama, St Cecilia’s College

 Ten performances took place in:

The Crescent Arts Centre Belfast
An Coire Maghera
The Derry Playhouse
The Alley Theatre Strabane
Enough Stuff Festival
The Environmental Gathering
The Gasyard Feile
The Stendhal Festival

Representatives from Zero Waste North West, Friends of the Earth, the Green Party (Clare Bailey MLA), Greenpeace UK, Love Screen Stop Mining, Protect Slieve Gallion, UK Student Climate Network and the Biodiversity Officer and Climate Manager from Derry City and Strabane District Council took part in post show Q+A panels.

 Ten Climate Change workshops were coordinated and facilitated by Zero Waste North West.

 This project was supported by The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

“Mothers Out Front’ offers both an enjoyable and thought provoking experience. It serves to highlight the very real threat of climate change and connects at a personal level telling the stories of loss and fears for the future. I found the performances and storytelling to be moving yet funny in a way that engages on a deeper level in order to communicate the human side of climate change, particularly from the perspective of mothers and women who so often lead the way to protect the most vulnerable. This is an excellent piece of art which has the potential to continue to engage, raise awareness and hopefully stimulate behaviour change for all who see it.”

Cathy Burns, CLIMATE Manager, Derry City and Strabane District Council

“I really enjoyed ‘Mothers Out Front’, it showed the passion that people have for this important issue. The play showed that this message can be delivered in a different medium to encourage people to take local action.”

Christine Doherty, Biodiversity Officer, Derry City and Strabane District Council

 “Mothers Out Front’ was fantastic! Side splitting humour with witty sayings, combined with the biggest threat to the planet getting kidnapped by a bunch of mammies. Loved it.”  Maia Willis-Reddick, UK Student Climate Network

 “Mothers Out Front’ was brilliant; very informative, current with a very funny twist.”

Nicky Frizelle, Geography Teacher, Thornhill College

Photos by Gav Connolly