Procreate - the surreal comedy about impending motherhood is coming to Camden Fringe Etcetera Theatre

“Remember - your life is over when you become a parent. You’ll never achieve your artistic dreams or have fun again. Especially if you’re a mum. Xoxo” (said some intrusive thoughts... and society)

Procreate is the debut one-woman show from Bethan Screen... and probably the last one because tbh, combining parenthood and performing sounds too hard :(

Procreate is a surreal comedy as she imagines impending parenthood. It's an attempt to explore the tensions between creative ambitions and mothering and laugh at them. This came from a frustration of not seeing herself, broody feelings and the process of deciding to have children reflected on stage.



Procreate pokes fun at the motherhood penalty, pesky prescriptive gender roles and expectations that pile on the pressure when you bang out a kid.

It features the real voices of mothers from all walks of life and at all stages of their mothering journeys that Bethan interviewed during the devising process. The piece has been informed by extensive research including the work of charities such as Pregnant Then Screwed, Parents in Performing Arts, The Young Woman’s Trust and books such as Matrescence by Lucy Jones and (M)otherhood by Pragya Agarwal.

Full of clowning, eggs, a sprinkle of audience interaction and voiceover, and entertaining the wee ones with puppetry and juggling, Bethan births an existential, heartfelt and profoundly stupid show about contemplating procreating.

This is a show for 90s babies, people who are thinking about having children, for people who don’t want kids, parents and former babies.

Buy tickets here.

The team
Procreate is created, written, performed and sound designed by Bethan Screen
Guest directors: Peta Lily, Sean Croft and Annabel Morley
Video: Adam Hunt
The Mama song was written with Lucie Neale

Procreate has been supported by Theatre Deli and White Label Comedy.

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Audience Quotes
“Tremendously funny, insightful and moving journey through twenty-first century womanhood”

“Wonderful, clever and heartfelt. Great clowning, delivering an important message about making art and making life. -Peta Lily”

“Funny, touching, theatrically beguiling riff on the joys and challenges of motherhood and 'broody' feelings..unlike anything else I've ever seen, richly enjoyable.”