Matrescence festival

21/22 June 2024

EXETER

Claire Tonti and Lizzy Humber present

MATRESCENCE FESTIVAL

21 & 22 June 10am-3.30pm

Theatre Alibi, Emmanuel Hall, Exeter EX4 1EJ

Over two days we will weave together a composition of expert speakers, vibrant discussion, deep feeling poetry and songs, art making, workshops, singing with lots of breaks and good food. This event is open to anyone interested in learning more about matrescence. This is space for village thinking, support and creativity, where children are welcome too.

Header Artwork: Laxmi Hussain

During pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood, women undergo a far-reaching physiological, psychological and social metamorphosis.
— Lucy Jones, Author of Matrescence

Hosted by

Claire Tonti

Singer, storyteller, host of the podcast ‘Tonts’ and mother of two

Lizzy Humber

Producer, community facilitator, cultural change maker, mother of two

speakers & Performers

Lucy Jones

Author of Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood

Dr Pragya Agrawal

Dr Pragya Agarwal

Author of (M)otherhood: On the choices of being a woman

Sonah Paton

Co-Founder Black Mothers Matter

Amy Taylor-Kabbaz

Author of Mama Rising and Matrescence Activist

Liz Berry

Poet, The Republic of Motherhood

Helen Sheppard

Poet, Fontenelle

Lily Redwood

Poet, You Make me think of Swifts

Dr Kate Massey Chase

Poet and Academic

Claire Tonti

Songwriter, album Matrescence

Holly Ebony

Folk Artist, album Born For These Times

Laxmi Hussain

Artist in Residence

Workshops

‘Stitch’

The Birth Project

‘Matresce-Zine’

Scotty Gillespie

‘Mama Rising Circle’

Amy Taylor-Kabbaz

‘Poetry Workshop’

Liz Berry

‘Songs of Matrescence’

Claire Tonti

Holly Ebony

Ruth Janssen

Ticket S

Festival pass

Adult Ticket for both days

£30 Full Price / £20 Concession

Includes Lunch

FRIDAY / SATURDAY

Adult Ticket for one day

£15 Full Price

Includes Lunch

Festival & one day

Accompanying Children

Free

Includes Lunch

FAQs

  • Everyone is welcome. You are welcome with children, with a friend, a partner or a parent. You are welcome in a professional capacity too. You do not need to be a parent to attend.

  • This is a place of permission and support where children are welcome with you. You will be free to move about during the event, come and go as you need. There will also be some mats and toys for the children to play. Please feel empowered to breast, chest or bottle-feed where you need at all times. We expect babies and toddlers to make noise, so there is no apologises needed for children being themselves. Please be respectful and supportive of each other.

    Headsets will be offered to all adults during the talks and performances so you are free to walk about, sit outside, visit the rest room, change a nappy - you don’t need to miss a thing. It also means you can always hear the speaker and we don’t need to turn the mics up too loudly. There will also be a children’s channel with music.

  • This is adult centred subject matter, including themes of birth loss, IVF, racism, maternal death and mental health. Content warning will be given before each speaker and in pre-event communications. If you have older children with you, we support you to use headsets in breakout spaces where older children cannot hear the speakers should content be a concern.

  • Everyone is welcome to engage as much or as little as they need, including the invited artists and speakers. There will be a quiet space during the morning speaker sessions to rest and reflect, to support neurodiverse needs, where headsets can be used to listen. There will be mats and toys in the main space and a secondary play space too to give you options. The headsets offer you the option to walk around and still hear the speaker. We will provide wristbands for entry so you are free to leave and return as you need.

  • Some workshops have limited capacity. You will receive an email in early June to ask you to book in to workshops, or sign up on the day to available workshops. This will be first come first served.

  • Morning refreshments and a vegan lunch will be provided for everyone. Please let us know when you book if you/your children have any dietary requirements. Please bring any food or drink you or children need, but no nuts please. We recommend bringing a reusable 'keep cup' for hot drinks and your own water bottle for the day.

  • Please indicate when booking if you need British Sign Language interpreters for the festival.

  • The main hall is wheel chair and buggy accessible via a ramp. There will be a buggy park at the venue. One breakout/workshop space is accessible only by stairs. Please let us know any access needs when you book.

  • Please note there is no parking at the venue, unless you have access requirements, please do let us know if that is the case on booking. There is a public car park on Okehampton Road, a 4-minute walk from the venue.

For any access needs or questions please get in touch for support. 

We also have free tickets available for anyone for which cost is a barrier.

We want to lift barriers, so please be encouraged to ask for what you need.