SOLO WORK

Following life changing events, I followed a cathartic urge to perform my own material, using dark comedy and storytelling, venturing onto the stand up comedy clubs and cabaret nights of the North West.

EXCAVATE THAT BITCH, a work in progress show for Manchester’s Women In Comedy Festival, was a sell out in 2024.

Audience Feedback for EXCAVATE THAT BITCH (WIP):

‘This show was absolute dynamite. Well constructed, beautifully delivered and full of heart.’

‘Absolutely blown away by this performance. Completely brilliant.’

‘Rachel’s energy is incredible, I loved the physicality of the performance. Totally relatable.’

‘A brilliant performance of a piece of writing with a stunning structure. Made me both belly-laugh and shed a tear – in a good way.’

‘Hilarious, Rachel is a star!‘

‘I loved how you went on quite a journey with Rachel – it was intense and dark in places but incredibly funny!’

‘Brilliant, funny and acutely observant. I loved that Rachel led the audience around a circular track that arrived back at her start point so cleverly.’

‘Smooth, witty, clever, unique.’

Work in Progress: MOTHER DARK

This journey into stand-up/cabaret rekindled an urge to return to theatre; but in a new way, using autobiographical material.

I yearned to make a punchy, hilarious and cathartic solo theatre show about co-dependence, systemic failures within mental health and the less examined, sides of motherhood.

I was supported by Arts Council England with a DYCP grant, working with mentor/director Ursula Martinez and dramaturg Annie Siddons.

I was invited to give a Bunker Talk at MMU Manchester School of Art in November 2025 where I read an extract of Mother Dark (WIP) and spoke about making autobiographical theatre with Dr Andrea Maciel Garcia. You can watch the recording here:

photo credit: Shay Rowan

A full length sharing of MOTHER DARK, my work-in-progress solo show took place at 53Two Theatre, Manchester on 26 November 2025, supported by the 53new scheme.

‘This Mother should be living alone in a caravan on the moors, by herself, and did we mention alone? Fat chance when everyone around her keeps falling apart. Apparently rescuing is ‘enabling’ and ‘helping’ is the sunny side of control, but how do we let people go when there’s nothing left to catch them?

MOTHER DARK is a blackly comic, wildly cathartic ride through co-dependence, mother rage and recovery. If you love a self help group and a banging 90s tune, if you yearn in these times for a (dark) Mother – this show is for you.’

photo credit: Shay Rowan

Audience Feedback for MOTHER DARK (WIP):

‘An extraordinary piece of theatre. The subject matter spoke to all of us young and older. You managed dark and light, involved the audience all the way through. Your honesty and openness was beautiful and presence on stage was so strong.’

‘Loved how this piece balanced the personal with the universal. Showed so cleverly how systemic failures means that the pressure is on individuals – the Mother Darks and others!’

‘What a show! I loved it. It was very funny at times and always entertaining and engaging. I was very moved by the end.’

‘We’re both CAMHS kids and this filled in part of our story – what our parents went through.’

‘What a brutal, heart smashing piece of work this was!’

‘I found so much to relate to, highlighting the pressures for family members, young people and mental health issues. It was tender, brave and playful.’

‘This was a beautiful show that soothed the soul.’

‘As well as being an extraordinary story, this shone a much needed light on mental health, mental health issues and the fecking roller coaster ride that being human can be.‘

‘Fabulous work – very moving, beautifully performed, can’t wait for what’s next!’

‘My heart dropped into my shoes so many times watching this. And it was bloody funny too.’

‘I can’t stop thinking about this courageous piece of work! It was such a complex mixture of vulnerability and resilience, of human connection and disconnection.‘

I loved this show. I was gripped, entertained and moved.’

‘It was f**cking brilliant.’

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