POEM FOR MY DAUGHTER (WIP)

PRESENTED BY COMMON GROUND

A performance poem about the unknown elements of queer parenthood, blending comedy, fantasy and spoken-word.

Blending comedy and fantasy, it delves into themes of protection and power when it comes to the hope of raising a child in our current climate, particularly following the ‘Me Too’ movement.  

In this autobiographical piece, Molly asks: ‘can we teach lessons we haven’t yet learned ourselves?’.  

The piece uses multi-rolling, movement, rhythm and music to share an unconventional idea of parenting, followed by a sort of mourning for the fact that right now, having a baby in the UK is currently a financially inaccessible dream for most working-class queer couples.  

Poem for my Daughter was initially developed with Apples & Snakes and a collection of poems titled ‘lessons I wish I’d learned’, and it has since grown into an explosive performance poem, for theatre audiences. Following multiple sharings of the original poem at Poets Palace, Rhyming Words, Genesis Slam and One Night Slam, this is the first time the full piece has been staged in its entirety. Please note, this is a work-in-progress performance.  

Written and performed by Molly Walker (National Theatre, Glastonbury, The Roundhouse, Secret Cinema, The Barbican and Birmingham Rep).  

Directed by Grace Duggan (Inter Alia National Theatre, Fear of 13 The Donmar and Weeping Woman Theatre503).  

This is the second collaboration between Molly Walker and Grace Duggan, following Molly’s debut solo show ‘Wild actually’ at the Pleasance in 2023.