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Woman First

A collection of monologues about disabled women's experiences of pregnancy and childbirth

Starts: 2009-11-16
Finishes: 2009-11-16

Availability:

Woman First is available for one-off performances throughout the year.

Introduction

It you get it right for disabled women
You’ll get it right for all women”

Woman First is a collection of monologues exploring disabled women’s experiences of pregnancy and birth as well as taking a wider look at disability rights. Researched with a range of women and health professionals across the UK, Woman First is a thought provoking piece of theatre that can be used for health professionals’ training and awareness raising in the community.

Woman First is accompanied by a facilitated post-show discussion to explore the issues raised.

History

Woman First was originally commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing Midwifery Society, to explore disabled women’s experiences of pregnancy and birth. It was presented at the International Confederation of Midwives Congress 2008 in Glasgow.

Notes

It’s always a privilege to listen to real people’s real stories and that was particularly so with this project. Lots of the work I am involved in creating focuses on stories which are rarely heard or told and this was very much the case with this project. The women, and few men, who feature in this piece deserve to be heard by a wide audience. Their experiences speak of empowerment, challenging the status quo, creative problem-solving, determination, humour, persistence and self-belief. The fact that they are out there challenging services and making them work for them, means that those services are improved for all of us. Their needs have to be at the core, not the periphery if we are to create truly flexible and creative health, social and education services.

Alison Belbin

Outcome

Woman First is an effective training resource which promotes best practice and affects change.

“My experience of working with Women and Theatre was exciting. The research exploring the views of disabled parents was wide ranging and comprehensive, all groups were involved, namely physical, sensory, learning and mental health. The themes were presented in such a powerful way that got the message across.

There is a real urgency to roll out this awareness to all groups in order to raise awareness of the needs of disabled people in their maternity and parenting experience.

This innovative way to deliver what is often a sensitive topic was full of humour, sensitivity and reality. As a midwife, disabled woman and parent I recommend this production one hundred percent.”

Jackie Rotheram
Specialist Midwife/Disability Lead
Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

Production Credits

Researched & written by: Alison Belbin & Kate Chapman
Additional Writing & Editing: Janice Connolly
Originally Performed: Janice Connolly, Caroline Parker & Terina Talbot

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