Call out for stories/words/ anecdotes/ thoughts/feelings/ cathartic sharings about feeding a baby

Context...

I'm making a new dance theatre / performance art solo show called 'Niplash'. It's part memoir and part critical analysis and explores the cultural and societal complexities/pressures/insane mixed messaging around feeding a child by any means. Formula feeding, breastfeeding, combi feeding, pumping - the task of keeping your child alive through what they intake via their tiny little mouths, can feel like a no-win situation. Driven by my own experience of over seven years continual breastfeeding, alongside dozens of first-person parental and child accounts, and extensive research into matrescence, the solo attempts to shine a light on a fairly taboo, under researched, often confusing and isolating part of many parents' journey. Niplash will be painful, absurd, fulfilling, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and full of love - a lot like feeding.

How can you help?

Never have I made a show which has attracted such an outpouring of people wanting/needing to share their experiences. So I'm collecting them all up and trying to honour them somehow in the making of this new work. If you have a story or anecdote, some words, thoughts or feelings, or are compelled to offer up a cathartic sharing of any sort, I would absolutely love to hear from you. To give you an idea, so far contributions have included: a friend sending me a recording of their toddler speaking directly to their breasts with pet names in abundance an eight minute voice note from a colleague describing their very painful 8 month journey with nipple shields a mum on the school run stopping me to tell me how she couldn't leave the house for 4 months because her nipples leaked so profusely a neighbour raging about her partner spilling her expressed milk someone on Facebook responding to my call out by simply gifting me their huge stash of plastic feeding paraphernalia an artist friend describing in detail the bloke who told her to put her tits away in a café

How to contact me...

You can send me anything that feels fitting via email (karlashacklock@gmail.com), by text/whatsapp/voice note (07956 218688) or we can meet in person.

Anonymity and Credits...

If you contact me to send me something, we will check in on your feelings around anonymity and credits. I am extremely aware of the sensitivity surrounding some of these stories and the possible triggers, and will endeavour to take real care with you and your words. You are very welcome to keep your offering anonymous and ask that I do not share it with anyone. You are equally welcome to ask me to credit your contribution if I use it in the work - this will most likely be in the programme notes. There is also a possibility that I will be producing a Pamphlet alongside the performance work, which will be available to audience members. This pamphlet will give voice to offerings I have collected, and again you are free to specify if and how/you would like to be included / credited.

Where can you see the work...

Niplash is currently in development, following a 20 minute scratch performance at the Reclaim Festival in Exeter on 11th November. I plan to continue to develop the work in early 2025 and then unleash it to the world!

If you want to know more...

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at all about the work and/or your possible contribution to it. You can also understand a bit more about me and my practice on my website www.karlashacklock.co.uk

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you if it feels right.