Mamahood: Bursting into Light Show & Keynote
Mamahood:Bursting into Light ~
written & performed by Nicolle Nattrass
directed by TJ Dawe
CURRENT UPDATE~
My story & the important message of Maternal mental health is now available in 2 formats~
Mamahood: Bursting into Light- theatrical show (90 minutes)
&
Keynote Presentation, Mamahood: A New Frontier (60 minutes)
I am thrilled to share that my KEYNOTE was launched on May 25/2019
for Gabriola Health Care Foundation on Gabriola Island, BC.
My Keynote helped to launch a new support group for Moms lead by Dr. Tracey Thorn
called "Mama Moods".A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Tracey Thorn and the Gabriola Health
Care Foundation along with funding from the BC College of Family Physicians.
Recent Press- Gabriola Sounder Article May 29/2019
"A one hour keynote address that took the audience through her poignant, relatable and often emotional experience of pregnancy, labour and becoming a mother for the first time.
Mamahood touched on themes of expectation, trauma, transition and post-partum mood
changes."
NEXT STEPS/ UPDATE AUGUST 2019
Moving forward, I now have my solo theatrical show as well as Keynote. With this Keynote,
I can reach more people & I have been researching where to present my KEYNOTE-
CONFERENCES, EVENTS and ORGANIZATIONS right?
Yes and there are many opportunities across Canada & U.S.
With almost all conferences & events, they are seeking Presenters and my Keynote is a
perfect fit, however the Application Fees to Present range from $ 150- $800.00
There are several conferences that I would like to share my Keynote at~
~ 2020 Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Conference, Vancouver BC.
~ Vancouver Health Show, Vancouver BC
~ Victoria Women's Expo, Victoria BC
& more... to be added
***Any donations you offer will be going to cover my APPLICATION FEES to the above
conferences. ***
THANK YOU.
To contact me directly, [email redacted]
Updated New website, www.nicollenattrass.com
PRAISE for MAMAHOOD
"Nicolle Nattrass's solo show, Mamahood: Bursting Into Light is brilliant. She is a
wonderful storyteller and fantastic character actor who nails the serious and comedic
characters with ease and gusto. The topic of the realities of being a new mother are rarely
talked about on stage or in public and that makes this show not only super entertaining
but necessary. You will love the rock n' roll ride of Mamahood. Do yourself, and everyone
mother you know, a favour and go see this show!"
-Tracey Erin Smith
Artistic Director of Toronto's SOULO Theatre Festival
"I recommend this play to all new moms, dads, parents, grandparents and anyone who has a “mom”, it validates the experience of motherhood in a way that truly shows the ups and downs as well as the amazing journey that we all embark on when we become parents, she shares with us the joys and the sorrows and ultimately the healing of some of those really difficult
parts. You will laugh and you will cry!"
-Sheila Duffy, Pacific PostPartum Support Society
www.postpartum.org
“Nattrass is a big-hearted and fearlessly vulnerable performer whose charm is a great strength of this show. Mothers who’ve believed themselves to be alone in falling short of
[motherhood] ideals are this show’s natural audience. Nattrass has given them a gift.”
-Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight
Thanks to all of you for your support in helping me to carry this message & create
change & healing for all~ families & communities.Mamas are important.How women are
treated pre-birth, during birth and postpartum is VITAL for Maternal Mental Health.
HOW YOUR DONATION CAN HELP~
MY NEXT STEPS~
It is time for me to NOT do this solo, in that any other FUNDS I raise will also be used to
1. Hire a Temp/Need basis/ MARKETING & RESEARCH ASSISTANT~
I am only one person & need assistance desperately to help me research where to perform,
not only venues (theatres), festivals but also organizations that align with this show and
opening up to a larger network, such as CONFERENCES. I need expert help in order to have greater outreach & exposure for future. I would ideally like to hire someone on a part-time
contract for 3- 6 months. Estimated Cost: $ TBD/ depending on experience/ qualifications & contacts. ** I need someone who is aligned with the core material of my show, if you know of anyone, please send them my way. Email: [email redacted]
2. SET COSTS~
I need to purchase an extra set of the beautiful banners (Travel size) by my amazing Set Designer &
Graphic Artists Pia Guerra. Estimated Cost: $2500.00
3. MICROPHONE costs- I would like to purchase Line 6 headset so that I have my own to take with me to do Keynote Presentations. Estimated Cost: $500.00
MORE PRAISE~
"Mamahood: Bursting into Light is a Must-See for health professionals who see women in
their 20s, 30s and 40s. Post-partum depression is a debilitating life-changer that hits women
when they expect to be in happy mommy-land. Nattrass’s brilliant one-woman show hits
hard and opens the audience to the inner world of deep pain in the midst of heart-aching
baby love. As a psychologist who has had clients go through their own post-partum
depression journey, I can attest to learning far more from Mamahood than from any
textbook I’ve read. I feel better equipped to help my own clients after having seen this
excellent theatre piece.”
Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PHD www.carolynnesbitt.com
“For many women, their child birth story is not what they had hoped for or imagined.
Viewing Mamahood: Bursting into Light could offer women (and possibly their supporting
partners) an opportunity for reflection, dialogue and healing. Childbirth is a life-changing
experience. The play offers women an opportunity to access repressed emotions around
their own birth stories in a safe and supportive atmosphere. For many women this could
prove to be a cathartic experience. “
Kerri Isham – Certified Sexual Health Educator www.powerupworkshops.ca
"So impressed with Nicolle Nattrass's solo performance today of her play Mamahood:
Bursting into Light. Her courageous sharing of her journey into motherhood, the challenges
for her and her partner in new parent-land, and her emergence into herself as a mother is
inspiring. I particularly appreciated the language she used: trauma, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Many women have births they are happy with, many women have births
that didn't go the way they wanted, and some women have births that are experienced as a
trauma. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT-- but we should. We should stop telling mothers "all
that matters is a healthy baby" and we should start listening to the experiences new mothers are navigating. And we should bring them more casseroles. Thanks for raising your voice
Nicolle!"-
Sarah Segal-Prenatal Educator and Family Support www.journeyofbirth.ca
Photo taken at the offices of Pacific PostPartum Support Society. 2017.
Special thanks to Sheila Duffy & her team of exceptional counselors for being my guest
speakers at many talk-backs after my show. This organization offers a toll free line and
amazing support and counseling to new mothers.
MORE AUDIENCE FEEDBACK-
via Social Media~
SNEAK PROMO VIDEO~Theatrical Show- Promo UVIC Oct. 2018 Performance
“What a great performance. Funny and raw, touched my heart. Thank you so much!”
“Thank you for your lovely performance. We were on stage with you, being affirmed in some of those moments and feelings of motherhood where we thought we were the only ones to
brush off the blues in front of a health nurse or enduring hospital births and feeling marginalized by (some) health care professionals. Thank you for your excellent talent and amazing
show! Loved the music clips and lighting effects. Masterful; you have warmed many hearts.”
“So good!!! So grateful I went. What an amazing job Nicole did in talking about a hard
subject while keeping it funny. Even though I don't know her, I felt so proud of her.”
“Absolutely wonderful performance. Raw, real and exceptionally funny ”
“This event was absolutely amazing! I loved every moment. I hope there is another
opportunity to see this show again!”
A beautiful, powerful performance! Thank you to Lesley Clarke and the Nanaimo Women's Resource Society, Kerri Isham, and to Nicolle Nattrass and her team (because I know a
performance like that takes a team). The script and performance were both extremely
inspiring and I wish all young women and potential mothers-to-be could see this production as it seems to me to provide such a strong message of prevention. This piece of theatre could save a life.”
“Dear Nicolle, I am absolutely blown away by your offering tonight. As a mamma, I laughed
until I had tears in my eyes, and I sobbed with relatability. You have captured and shared the complexity of mammahood and it's rich humour, struggle and love. As a postpartum doula,
my heart ached for the women I've witnessed... the struggles, the strength and always, the love. Thank you for sharing this healing journey, the healing ripples will flow out from
everyone in attendance. I hope this becomes a major motion picture where everyone would have access to it's medicine. And I hope that you still share live, because the community and
intimacy tonight was beautiful. THANK YOU”
“Had the pleasure of attending tonight. So good...so funny... and so real. Hope you can do the play again in Nanaimo.Thank you so much for a wonderful show! I felt truly moved and
inspired, I also laughed the whole way through. The time flew by and it felt like we could
have talked and shared all night.”
"I did not know what to expect from your show tonight, but I was blown away! Your words
spoke to so many different parts of me...Mother, Daughter, Friend....inner child, past and
present shames...it was beautiful, and funny, heartfelt and so raw....Thank you."
“You were absolutely amazing yesterday. You made us laugh, you made us cry, and most of
all, you made us mamas feel normal!! Thank you.”
“Thank you for your lovely performance. We were on stage with you, being affirmed in some of those moments and feelings of motherhood where we thought we were the only ones to
brush off the blues in front of a health nurse or enduring hospital births and feeling
marginalized by (some) health care professionals. Thank you for your excellent talent and
amazing show! Loved the music clips and lighting effects. Masterful; you have warmed many hearts.”
Thanks again all for help, please donate if you can and/or connect me to who you think might be able to sponsor me to bring this SHOW to your Community.
This link below beautifully illustrates the postpartum experience.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanalexandertanner/overwhelmed-anxious-and-angry-navigating-postpartum-depressi?utm_term=.xo97vGBKq#.eb41M0mrB