More Than a Mum:

Harlow Playhouse: April 19th, 2025

A FEW years ago Susie Corcoran’s one-woman play Priscilla Queen of Disaster was a very successful insight into the life of a mum juggling two children, career and a difficult break-up.

Now she returns with More Than A Mum. Susie’s children are still at the heart of things but now we are entering the teenage years. And with the massive publicity surrounding Netflix series Adolescence, much of More Than A Mum seems remarkably of its time.

This is very much a hometown gig. Susie is front of house manager at the Harlow Playhouse but just because you are home, doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a win (see Spurs for details).

But Susie begin in a really relaxed mood. In other words she is normal, honest, funny and such an everywoman.

Whilst watching it, much of her life reminded this reviewer of a friend. That’s the point. That’s our everywoman.

It is a very well written piece but Susie is so vital to the success of this performance. No Susie and it is less of More Than a Mum.

Susie is excellent at painting pictures. Much of it in her bathroom. Our notes have words such as “Holes” “Tweezers” and “Britney Spears 2007”. All pointers to wonderfully described incidents and circumstances. We also have the word “Mucus”.

It hits hard at times, especially a reference to a friend of her son and language used towards her. There’s a real zeitgeist feel here and all that a mum such as Susie is contending with.

Susie takes her audience with her. Yes, they can relate to traumas at the soft play centre or indeed their own relationship problems. And Susie’s new partnership seems very heartwarming.

Susie paints so many portraits of life so well. She also delvers a line on her health that was so poignant and so moving. But again, that is because you are batting for Susie.

In other hands, this could ended up as a hate-filled diatribe against the patriarchy etc. Susie gets the balance, the pitch and the chemistry just right.

But as people believe in Susie, they buy into her counselling that “we are our own soul mates” and “You deserve to have a life and not just be in one”

As a piece of theatre this was very well directed and produced. Not only the use of the screen but also Lawrence in the control room. An invisible straight man, that was perfect foil and somehow integral to the theme of the show.

We hope this plays in Harlow again. We do hope they tour with this. There is an audience in every town for this. We look forward to many more plays from Susie.