Liverpool writer creates ‘Mummylogues’ on the unspoken sides of motherhood

A Liverpool writer has created Mummylogues, a show featuring monologues all about the unspoken sides of motherhood.

Nieve Hearity wanted to share funny, heartbreaking, thought-provoking and often undiscussed aspects of having a child.

Often drawing on the real-life experiences of family and friends, she’s written most of the 13 monologues featured in the show which makes its Liverpool debut at the Epstein this week with all-local cast, crew and writers.

And, keen to include a wide variety of topics, she’s also invited other writers to share theirs too.

She says, “I love opening the doors to new writers and new creatives and I wanted to get a another perspective on all these different experiences of motherhood.”

“Mummylogues is all about the sides of motherhood we don’t really talk about, or they’re things you’d only say in the family but not to your mum friends. 

“This will be its first time in Liverpool but the show has had a few iterations/mini tours in London and every time we do it, everyone in the audience relates personally to one monologue at least.”

Nieve, who works with special needs students in a mainstream school, began writing when her love of acting had to be put on hold following a type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2015.

“At the time I thought I’d get back to auditioning straight away but it just didn’t happen. For two years I was in and out of hospital and I felt stuck, so I really wanted to do something creative that would keep me in the game. 

“I’d always wanted to write monologues but I didn’t really think I could do it. This was an opportunity to try and I got really lucky that people enjoyed what I was writing.”

Nieve, 41, penned what was to become her first Mummylogue to her best friend.

“She had a terrible time trying to get pregnant and it became something that she didn’t feel able to talk about it. I wrote a monologue and sent it to her, without any intention of performing it, just to express how I was feeling. 

“She read it and said it should be performed because it was exactly how she felt but she couldn’t explain it. She just felt she had to put a smile on her face and carry on. 

“That was the first one, I performed it in a monologue competition at Stockport Playhouse and ended up coming second then off the back of that I started writing more. We did two sold out nights at Stockport Playhouse, they were insane nights, and I had friends who asked if they could write some from different points of view which is how it came to be more than just my writing.”

Mummylogues covers all kinds of subjects, from miscarriage to one called Dog Mum, about a woman who is happier having dogs than children.

Former EastEnders and Hollyoaks actor Devon Anderson will join the Epstein show, becoming its first ever male cast member. He’ll perform a monologue about a gay man adopting a child and the effect it has on his relationship.

Although Mummylogues is all about parenting, Nieve, who’s from West Derby, doesn’t actually have children herself because, she says, she’s too selfish for motherhood.

“But I think anyone who’s able to raise a child is incredible, and I work with children – I think they’re great – so a lot of the monologues come from the comedy in that.”Mummylogues is at the Epstein on Saturday April 15.

Put ‘Mummylogues’ in the discount code box at checkout to get a deal on tickets here.

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