Call Me Mother is a deeply personal story that explores what it means to have your identity defined by society when your identity isn’t fully understood by others. Through challenging norms and expectations of queerness and motherhood, performer and writer Scarlet Rose has created a deeply evocative show that is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Having seen an earlier rendition of this show at the Blue Room’s 600 Seconds, I was delighted to see this show return at FRINGE WORLD in an expanded form that allows it to explore more ideas. 

Scarlet’s performance was dynamic and personal, seamlessly blending moments of theatricality and intimate recountal. Their storytelling was fully engrossing, with each moment of humour, rage and pathos in show brought to life with raw honesty. Costume and props were cleverly interwoven into the fabric of the production design, which was a great utilisation of the limited Blue Room Theatre staging. It was touching to see home videos of their childhood presented in the space, with a poignant ending bringing a strong sense of catharsis. 

Although Scarlet’s story is so unique to themself it was so palpable in the audience’s receptiveness that everyone felt connected in some way to the material and was undoubtedly moved by it.