SCUMBAGS UNITE WITH THE SCUMMY MUMMIES AT NOTTINGHAM PLAY HOUSE
The Scummy Mummies are the iconic comedic duo of Helen Thorne and Ellie Gibson. Their real-life and frank parent-comedy show began over five years ago, but they continue to build their following with their incredible podcast, book, and their hilariously unfiltered Instagram account. Despite having just finished a month-long stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, they are keen to get back on the road with their extensive new tour!
It would be an understatement to say that The Scummy Mummies’ content is designed to show that no parent is perfect. They believe there’s no such thing as ‘perfect’, but that can be what unites us! Whether its fish fingers for dinner, letting your toddlers keep something they accidentally stole from the shop, or saying ‘**** you to World Book Day’ (as they did in the show) it was a night to celebrate the ScumBag in all of us!
Their performance at The Playhouse on Sunday 22nd September was long awaited, as the fish finger fans have never held a show in Nottingham before, which was clear in the roars of laughter and applause from the audience. From the first look at the ladies in ‘that’ Zara dress, to the finale of their personalised catsuits, it was truly a laugh-a-minute event. Even with a five minute technical fault at the beginning, it was forgotten within moments as they delved into their tongue and cheek set.
We all had a chuckle at our own expense by taking a walk back through time with Helen and Ellie about the screen time foreboding; organic earth mothers we all once swore we would be whilst pregnant, to the complete contrast of the kind of parents we are now…
They kitted out the Duchess of Cambridge with a more realistic representation of motherhood, complete with dropping breasts, swapping her fascinator for a beanie, food stains on her designer clothes and of course attaching that Happy Meal that we all promised we would never let our own children eat before we had them.
Helen and Ellie also whisked us away to ‘Mum Island’ where they boldly took on Spanx swimsuits and dodgy spray tans – a place where tea is drank whilst its hot, and the normal end of date night activities are not expected!
The audience were incredibly engaged with Helen and Ellie throughout the naughty yet captivating performance, especially during games of ‘Never Have I Ever’, ‘Top 10 Things That Really ** Me Off’ and of course the Scummy Mummy Confessions!
Just like on their podcast, audience members are encouraged to disclose their own ‘Scummy Confessions’ – detailing a dirty secret that they have never wanted to admit. We then ranked the parenting sins on the ‘Scumometer’ – an ironing board embellished with plastic food that depicted the classic diet of a scumbag.
Highlights included the lady whose husband watches the children while she’s at the ‘gym’ when in fact she just goes there for a shower in peace, to the mum who used her child’s artwork to pick up her pet’s poo. But there could only be one winner, and the Scummiest Mummy in Nottingham was Lana; who let’s just say ‘couldn’t cope’ with her 4 year olds’ new vegan lifestyle…
This incredible show was two hours of non-stop cackling, cheering and an overwhelming sense of unity. Parenthood can be an isolating and pressurised role, so to be surrounded and supported by hundreds of other people all going through the same challenges, made the night even more spectacular. Thanks to the magical comedic genius of Helen Thorne and Ellie Gibson, we were all truly proud to call ourselves Scummy Mummies from that night on.
Review by Charlotte Teakle
For more shows at Nottigham Playhouse please visit https://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/
