Outta the Mouths of Babes

Collaborative Theatre artist Tessa Mitchell works with mother and daughter through Covid-19 to present in Auckland Fringe Festival for Basement Theatre Documentary Provocation

Returning to the Basement Theatre as part of their Documentary Theatre Makers curation for Auckland Fringe Festival, Tessa Mitchell speaks of being a mother, daughter, and actor, in the year that is Covid in Outta the mouths of Babes.

Joined by matriarch Judy and daughter Sian, they connect pivotal moments in their lives in a tapestry of dance, spoken word, and music, that celebrate coming-of-age and choices that define us.

Combining interviewing, dance, lip-syncing, video projections of cooking demos and mobile phone texts with storytelling and spoken word, it is a semi inquiry into parenting styles and the age-old question of Nature Vs Nurture and liberal parenting. 

These are 3 real mothers and daughters and this investigation is loosely touched on in ways while many spanners are thrown in the works and we veer off into modern times and teen fascinations with social media and devices, politics, sexuality with the backdrop of the times and Covid 19.

How are things even different from all the idealism of the 60’s/70’s when Jude was parenting?

With direction and devising by Ruth Dudding, dramaturgy by Emma Willis, choreographic advising by Alexa Wilson and lighting Design by Sean Curham this work is a collaborative project.
“Daring and endearing” - NZ Herald

Auckland Fringe Award Winner with Stephen Bain for ‘I wanna be na nah na nah nah’, 2017.
 
“In under an hour, Mitchell covers more emotional ground than most shows do in 90 minutes.” - Tim George, Theatrescene, 2016.

“Tessa’s open-hearted warmth and relaxed, frank expression is effortlessly captivating and highly entertaining.” - Nik Smythe, Theatreview, 2016.

Promocode: FriendsOTMB