I started thinking about writing Some Other Mother in 2007 when I first began working with women and children in the asylum system. My brother, Robin Taudevin, had come to Glasgow the previous year to photographically document the lives of people in or rejected from the asylum system.
Over the past 6 years I have been a community, drama and youth worker but most importantly a friend, sister and loving member of the Knightswood communities where many people in the asylum system in Glasgow are housed.
Strength and solidarity
Some Other Mother is a fictional response to the stories of well over a hundred women and children and is inspired by their courage, imagination, strength and solidarity.
The Playwrights Studio New Writer’s Award 2010 gave me focussed writing time and support which culminated in a rehearsed reading at Refugee Week Scotland 2012.
“The emotional impact is shattering and beautifully conveyed…” **** The Scotsman
The play is about how UKBA’s rigid and brutal immigration process has a traumatising impact on the individual regardless of the outcome of their claim. Previous drafts of the play have been interpreted as criticising the structures of help for people in the asylum system, such as social work. This was extremely useful feedback which has provoked a major rewrite.
Villain
The structures for help available to people seeking asylum in the UK are necessarily restricted in scope, but there is only one villain in Some Other Mother. This villain is unseen in the play, as it is unseen to many in Glasgow. The villain is UKBA.
Some Other Mother, directed by Catrin Evans, is at Tron Theatre from 14-15 June. Book here.
