A brutally honest monologue about a woman who asks if it’s okay to regret motherhood
What happens when footage of a woman calling her four-year-old son the c-word hits the internet ?
Son of a Bitch is a brutally honest and darkly funny monologue about a woman who asks if it’s okay to regret motherhood.
Taking to the stage at Southwark Playhouse in Borough on February 26, Son of a Bitch is written and performed by award-winning comedian, actor and writer, Anna Morris.
Ms Morris won a Scotsman Fringe First for this debut play, which sees stressed mother Marnie struggling to look after her challenging son Charlie, leading to a fateful 10 seconds.
As the clip is debated on national television and radio, Marnie’s life violently unravels.
Jumping forward and backward in time, it shows the build up to, and the fallout from, the worst moment of Marnie’s life.
Son of a Bitch explores the fetishisation of motherhood and questions the common misconception that the childless might regret not having kids. But, perhaps some parents regret having them?
Ms Morris said: “I’m 44 and I don’t have children, and I’m absolutely fed-up with the way people judge me for this.
“With this show, I really wanted to start a dialogue around the choices we have around having children.”
The playwright drew inspiration from endless forums and online chats where women anonymously admitted they regretted having children and were struggling.
She said: “I wrote the play to explore the themes of maternal ambivalence, choices and the way women are pressured into following the path of marriage and children.
“Pressures on women to meet someone and beat their biological clock, regardless of circumstance.”
The play also explores the power of social media and how a 10-second video of someone’s life can destroy them.
Ms Morris has written and performed four critically acclaimed one-woman comedy shows which have toured the UK and Australia.
She plays Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh in The Windsors and has starred in Channel 4’s Lee and Dean, BBC’s The First Team, Outnumbered and Count Arthur Strong.
The comic writer has single-sided deafness and supports Action on Hearing Loss.
All performances of Son of a Bitch will feature integrated creative captioning as well as BSL and relaxed performances.
Southwark Playhouse is a registered charity that delivers a year-round programme of entertainment.
The theatre operates two separate venues, Southwark Playhouse Borough and its newest theatre Southwark Playhouse Elephant which opened in January 2023.
Son of a Bitch will run at Southwark Playhouse Borough, in Newington Causeway, from February 26 until March 15.
For tickets and listings visit: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/son-of-a-bitch
Pictured top: Actor and comic writer Anna Morris as Marnie in Son of a Bitch (Picture: Karla Gowlett)