Women are not free anywhere in this world until all women in the world are free. — Leymah Gbowee

Founded: 1999, London. An award-winning, woman-led performing arts company creating work that responds to world political issues from a female viewpoint.
Repertoire: Democracy v. Donald J. Trump · The Singing Stones · Theatre of Protest · Bones · Boys Talking · Five Crimes Reconstructed · If Anyone Recognises These Young People.
International: Translated and produced in French and Spanish. Editions published by Oberon Books, London.

What we do

An award-winning, woman-led performing arts company.

Mama Quilla creates theatre, film, mixed-media performance and digital installations from a female viewpoint, working across mainstream venues, public spaces and the community.

The work brings urgent and controversial subjects into the light. It tackles issues traditionally considered of special interest to women — and those previously assumed to be of no interest to women at all.

Democracy v. Donald J. Trump

Democracy v. Donald J. Trump will be a curated series of 11 short films to be made by new, emerging, and established filmmakers. The project will bring together personal, original and genre-bending responses to Donald Trump’s attack on democracy in America. The films will celebrate the diversity, urgency and legitimacy of protest, and will be released in June 2028 ahead of the Presidential election.

Producer Stingaree Productions in association with Mama Quilla Productions
Curator Kay Adshead

Selected work

15 productions · 1999 — 2026 · London & international

View the complete archive →

In the community

Voices that are rarely heard.

Since the company’s earliest days, Mama Quilla has built a creative practice deeply rooted in community work — site-specific theatre and workshop performance that celebrates marginalised voices and explores their experience.

A long creative relationship with the Crossroads Women’s Centre, working alongside Women Against Rape (WAR), Legal Action for Women (LAW) and the All African Women’s Group, has informed many of the company’s most enduring productions and platform events.

“Mama Quilla has built its reputation tackling issues deemed thorny. In so doing, it has become an invaluable resource providing a voice for those who are rarely heard.” Cari Mitchell / Crossroads Women's Centre

Initiative

Rapid-response theatre, mixed-media.

Launched in April 2011 by Kay Adshead and former students of the City Lit, the Mama Quilla Initiative operates as a pod inside the company — creating rapid-response theatre, original innovative mixed-media performance responding to the times and provoking debate.

Twitter / X ↗Initiative blog ↗

In education

Two epic productions a year.

Since 2007, Mama Quilla has worked in partnership with Barking College of Performing Arts, devising original epic productions from young people’s own experiences. Two productions a year, involving more than 50 students each, performed at The Broadway Theatre, Barking.

View education productions →

Awards

Fringe First
Manchester Evening News Best Fringe Performer
Adelaide Best Play of Fringe
Adelaide Fringe Sensation
Susan Smith Blackburn finalist (×2)
EMMA

In the press / selected notices, 2000 — 2015

“Powerful, passionate, committed piece of theatre that if seen widely enough may change hearts and minds.” The Guardian · on The Bogus Woman

“Political theatre is alive again.” Evening Standard

“This is political theatre at its best.” Scotland on Sunday

“A magnificent fantastical roar against a world in which half the population is excluded, ignored, derided, mistreated.” One World · on The Singing Stones