Theatre | MENTAL - The Mother Load

top of page

MENTAL - The Motherload

MENTAL - The Motherload

MENTAL - The Motherload is an ongoing multi outcome arts project connecting, validating and empowering mothers as we dig into the experience of the 'mental load' of motherhood. Birthed in 2018 the project has involved hundreds of mothers of all ages and stages of motherhood across lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia and the world through workshops, online creative encounters, open rehearsals, live performances and short films.

The MENTAL – The Motherload creators are:

Julie Waddington, Carrie McLean, Bryony Geeves, Melissa King and Rebecca Thomson.

LIVE WORK

The Motherload is an interactive live gameshow where two teams compete for the crown of Ultimate Queen Mumm! It premiered at the Junction Arts Festival, Launceston in 2021 and is touring lutruwita/Tasmanian in 2023. more details>>

"The three performers are buoyant, joyous, spontaneous, clever, resourceful … perfect, in fact.

As directed by Julie Waddington, the show is intelligent, generous, warm and laugh-out-loud funny.

Its serious moments are sincere without being cloying."

Robert Jarman. read the full review>>

FILMS

The Motherload Films is our creative documentary web series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood is being released online for all to enjoy through May and June 2022. Follow our FB page to see them first. And find them here>> as they are released.

Our future plans involve touring our live performance and films to communities across regional Tasmania in 2023 and then Australia. Everywhere we tour we aim to connect with mummas through workshops, sharing stories and making crowns!

never.the.less productions

The Motherload is the first production of never.the.less, a new production group founded by director and producer Julie Waddington. never.the.less productions is inspired by and seeks to tell stories of resilience, perseverance, drive, strength, boundaries, empathy, inspiration and hope.

Scroll Down

Empty Nest - The Motherload Films

03:13

Empty Nest - The Motherload Films

Does the mental load for mothers diminish or even disappear when their children have left home? We asked some mothers with an empty nest and here are some of their responses. EMPTY NEST is the sixth and final film in our creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund RANT arts, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia. https://www.mentalthemotherload.com

Teenager - The Mottherload Films

04:24

Teenager - The Mottherload Films

How has the mental load shifted for you as a mother of a teenager? We asked this question of a number of mothers who gifted us these responses that express the worry and beauty of the teenage stage. TEENAGE is the fifth film in our creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund RANT arts, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia. https://www.mentalthemotherload.com

Primary - The Motherload Films

05:57

Primary - The Motherload Films

Mothers, what are some of the challenging, deep, bizarre questions that your kids have asked you? We invited a number of brave mums to come sit in the Hot Seat to answer some tricky questions straight from a kid’s inquiring mind. PRIMARY is the fourth film in our creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund RANT arts, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia. www.mentalthemotherload.com

Toddler - The Motherload Films

07:23

Toddler - The Motherload Films

If there was a ninja warrior course for mothers of toddlers what would be some of the obstacles?! We threw Bryony – aka Queen B, mother of two, expert at interpreting kindergarten artwork - into the arena and made her compete in our MOTHER WARRIOR contest. Watch the film to see how she shaped up! TODDLER is the third film in our creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund RANT arts, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

Baby - The Motherload Films

03:59

Baby - The Motherload Films

Mothers, what are the thoughts, lists, dreams and worries going through your head when you wake in the middle of the night? A stream of consciousness writing exercise in our community workshops prompted these responses – poetic, practical and pooped - from the participating mothers. BABY is the second film in our creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund RANT arts, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

Gestation - The Motherload Films

03:08

Gestation - The Motherload Films

The mental load of being a mumma starts well before the baby arrives…. What was some of the advice - good, bad and downright weird - that you got while you were expecting? We asked over 500 mothers this question and here are some of the responses received. Please feel welcome to add your own experience in the comments, share the video, roll your eyes, or have a wry chuckle. GESTATION is the first film in our film creative documentary series exploring the messy, mundane and magical mental load of motherhood. The Motherload Films were produced by never.the.less productions, assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts and the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

The Motherload - 2021 Live Performance Promo

01:16

The Motherload - 2021 Live Performance Promo

The Motherload is a creative documentary performance exploring the beauty, grotesque and poetic in the madness and mundane of motherhood. Developed over several years in collaboration with mothers across Tasmania, the Motherload Collective present an interactive live gameshow: two teams compete for the crown of Ultimate Queen Mumma in a series of bizarre, boisterous and hilarious tasks torn from the very real experiences of motherhood throughout its stages, while the verbatim performances offset this riotous battle with poignancy, relief, and chaos. presented by never.the.less productions in association with the Tasmanian Theatre Company and Junction Arts Festival Concept and Direction by Julie Waddington created with Carrie McClean, Bryony Geeves, Melissa King and Rebecca Thompson Sound Design by Jacky Collyer Production Design by Ros Wren JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL - Launceston Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 September PEACOCK THEATRE - nipaluna /Hobart Thursday 30 September - Saturday 2 October https://www.mentalthemotherload.com

MENTAL - The Motherload STAGE 2 FILM - out of the mouths of mummas

03:52

MENTAL - The Motherload STAGE 2 FILM - out of the mouths of mummas

MENTAL - The Mother Load is a creative documentary performance exploring the beauty, grotesque and poetic in the madness and mundane of motherhood. Stage 2 of the project (2019) was broken into 3 parts, PD for the core team, a significant period of research and creative engagement with mothers online and in-person plus core team exploring research materials through a period of creative development towards a first draft performance framework. This video shares some of the many words shared with us by mothers through both online creative encounters and in-person workshops. Filmed and edited by Rebecca Thomson Performer - Carrie McLean Voice Performances - Bryony Geeves, Melissa King, Carrie McLean and Rebecca Thomson

SUPPORT

The Motherload project has been assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts, made possible by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

for full details of supporters and community partners >>

never.the.less.png

We acknowledge all palawa pakana people, who have continuously practiced art and culture on this island for over fifty thousand years. Always was, always will be.

bottom of page