Production company Whiskey and Boots brings ‘Mama Stitch’ storytelling and installation show to Narrogin

Wheatbelt residents can immerse themselves in a unique storytelling and installation experience in Narrogin that shows the relationship people have with their mothers.

Production company Whiskey and Boots will host Mama Stitch at the Narrogin Reception Centre on September 9 and 10.

Producer and performer Georgia King said the show was born out of a lack of stories showing the relationships people had with their mothers.

“I have noticed that there were lots of shows and stories around on the experience of being a mum, which is great, but there weren’t a lot of stories around about the experience of having a mum and being mothered,” she said.

“The way our mums nurture us or don’t, or the style of parenting that a mum delivers is so significant in terms of who we become as adults.

“I hadn’t seen many stories about that relationship, so I started the journey of interviewing people about their mums and also in terms of my own relationship with my Mum.

“These stories are interesting, funny, sad or tragic and people find them very relatable.”

The production team has interviewed seven community members aged from 10-50 about their relationships with their mothers to create a series of anonymous audio stories.

Performers King and Mark Storen will tell the stories using a headphone verbatim technique in which they listen to the interview in headphones and recite it word-for-word to the audience.

“I share the stories with the three-piece band and they then write and compose some music that is in direct response to that story,” King said.

“The music is the foundation for when we share the story which really helps tell the story and response to the cadence and nuances of each individual speaker.”

When audience members walk into the space they will be greeted with freshly baked bread and a cup of tea, or an open bar, and will be able to peruse the installation of hundreds of letters written by previous audience members.

“The space will be filled with letters that have been written anonymously by our previous audience members to their mums,” King said.

“We have about 500 letters that people can read and they range from the tragic, absurd and hilarious.

“They can read those, get comfortable and then they will have the chance to listen to these stories the community has shared through me and Mark.”

The audience will then be invited to contribute to the project by writing an anonymous letter to their mother for future showcases.

For tickets, visit the Arts Narrogin website.