Almondbury mother and daughter, Mary and Marianne Matusz are part of an unusual and experimental theatre project exploring the bonds between women of different generations.
They volunteered to take part in Like Mother Like Daughter, run by Dewsbury-based Creative Scene and the theatre company Complicite. The aim is to give women a voice and celebrate the traditions passed down from one to another.
The project has involved 16 women from Huddersfield and parts of North Kirklees and will culminate in live performances at Batley Town Hall and Northorpe Hall in Mirfield next week.
Mary and Marianne spotted a call in the Creative Kirklees newsletter for women to participate. Mary, a part-time English and English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher, was intrigued and wanted to know more. Marianne, who recently graduated from Warwick University with a First in Theatre Studies, was also interested. She has just returned to live with her parents after taking up a post in the creative engagement team at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. The mum and daughter say they are very close and regularly attend theatre or poetry events together – they both write poetry.
Creative Scene is involved in raising the profile of the arts in the North Kirklees area and encouraging participation by ordinary members of the public.
Eight pairs of mothers and daughters were chosen to volunteer their stories. The actual performances, on November 17 in Batley and then in Mirfield from November 20 until 22, will take the form of unscripted discussions between the women on a variety of topics. Audiences will be invited to ask questions over an informal dinner with the participants after the shows.
Tickets are £5, including food, from www.creativescene.org.uk or 01924 324501.
