Tales From The Motherland; the reviews are coming in …..

Tales from the Motherland is a second portmanteau programme of monologues and a duologue from Rob John and fEast Theatre, following the huge success 2024’s The Hollyhock Trilogy.

Where The Hollyhock Trilogy centred on romantic relationships and the search for love, this new trio of plays explores motherhood and the vexed nature of the parental bond. The first, Pudding, deals with tobacconist-confectioner Malcolm (lovably stolid Robin McLoughlin) whose humdrum life at home with his mum is structured around the TV schedule and the need for a proper dessert. The second, Lipstick, details the maternal disappointments of Victoria (Dawn Finnerty is wonderfully brittle and awkward) who has sensed the disapproval of her uppity daughter from the child’s sixth hour on earth.

‘Many reasons to catch this intriguing and theatrically varied evening.’

Both monologues focus on changes in the family dynamic – ‘Everything’s on the move,’ as Malcolm says – and both offer cautious hope. However difficult, however unhappy family life can be, things don’t have to stay the same and surprising reconciliations and accommodations are possible. And how can you not love a play in which are portly shopkeeper bests a Donald Trump look-a-like in romance or Barbie’s granny has the last laugh?

Such optimism disappears in Pillowcase.  Popping in one morning to check on his mum, Jen, local vicar Richie makes an extremely disturbing discovery which obliges him to reevaluate his attitude not only to his redoubtable but apparently unremarkable mother but to his faith and his sense of self.

Pillowcase takes an idiosyncratic view of a current hot button issue which I won’t spoil by identifying. It’s formally innovative, seamlessly blending direct audience address with conventional dialogue, and, riskily, also extremely funny, dealing with its subject through some jet-black humour.

Jen is played superbly by Barbara Horne, a nuanced study of a good woman pushed to the edge by depressingly unexceptional circumstances. Her wonderfully accomplished performance is just one of many reasons to catch this intriguing and theatrically varied evening.

Tales from the Motherland tours venues in Norfolk and Suffolk until 4 April.

Review by George Norton

‘The quality of writing throughout was outstanding, investing two monologues and a duologue with a rare authenticity.’

Read the full review from David Vass at
The Corn Hall Diss here.

We’re on the road again!

We’re excited to announce that fEAST Theatre will be touring again this Spring as our brand new show Tales from the Motherland comes to venues in Norfolk and Suffolk. Following the success of last year’s The Hollyhock Trilogy we have commissioned three more darkly comic tales from writer Rob John. Starring Barbara Horne, Dawn Finnerty and Robin McLoughlin, the new show brings you the funny but poignant stories of three mothers whose secrets, lies and misdemeanours create havoc in the lives of their adult children.

Tales from the Motherland will surprise you, make you laugh and maybe shed a tear…possibly all at the same time!

Reviews of last year’s The Hollyhock Trilogy included:
‘a rare treat to see such bold sure-footed writing so expertly delivered’ George Norton.
‘Rob John extends the possibility of what can be done with a monologue….one of the finest productions I have seen at the Corn Hall for a very long time.’ David Vass

Tour dates and booking information

Please note the Aylsham date has changed from Wednesday 12th March 2025 to Tuesday 11th March 2025.