The Good Enough Mums Club

Conceived and written by Emily Beecher, 'The Good Enough Mum's Club' was born out of a feeling of guilt and desperation that she was the ultimate child-bearing failure, the worst mum in the whole world, and that she was letting down not just her children, but her partner and herself as well. The light-bulb moment, the turning point if you will, came when she shared these fears with other mums, only to find that almost every single mum had, at some time, felt exactly the same. Fuelled by the realisation that being the best mum in the world could never be more than a theoretical pipe-dream, and buoyed by the experiences shared by other mums that she met, 'The Good Enough Mums Club' came into being.

Ten years on, and the Club has become a book, a cabaret show, and now, finally a two-hour musical theatre show, written and performed by mums, for mums. And, with dedicated child and baby matinee shows available at each venue, every mum is now given the chance to come along and enjoy the show.

With its combination of humour, honesty and heartbreak, plus a smattering of social politics, Beecher and her team have created a show that will entertain more than just the mums. Although I was one of just a handful of men in the audience tonight, I loved every minute of 'The Good Enough Mums Club' - from the urine dipstick of the initial pregnancy test, through to the birth and beyond. We followed the trials and tribulations of our five heroic mums at their weekly mother-and-child club sessions, accompanying them to the local community centre, and empathising as they journeyed from 'Sensory Week' to 'World Book Day' and beyond, marred only by the spectre of the community centre being sold off during the next round of council cuts.

The characters of Bea, Michelle, Chantel, Sophie and Esme may appear to be stereotypes, but in the capable hands of directors Sarah Meadows and Michelle Payne, they are brought to life with a reassuring honesty that many will recognise and identify with. Bea (Joanna Kirkland) is affluent and aspirational; Sophie (Gemma Atkis) may be down-to-earth and hilarious, but is hiding the secret of having lost a child; Michelle (Rebecca Bernice Amissah) dreams of a world where the colour of your skin is no longer a thing; Chantel (Jade Samwels) is down to earth, and unashamedly shops in Lidl; and Esme (Belinda Wolaston) is a lesbian mum diagnosed with post-partum depression. With Verity Quade's songs and music accompanying us throughout the show, the theatrical experience is witty and well-paced, with a tone that lies somewhere between 'Six' and 'Fascinating Aida'.

Some of the funniest moments come when the roles are reversed and the mums become their offspring, as is the protracted ‘peek-a-boo’ session, but it is the solo vocal performances that provide the greatest insights into each of these five mothers’ lives.