In 2021, Theatre Maker and Performer Sophia Hatfield began creatively exploring her experiences of exercising in public as a lone female runner. From unhelpful comments, unsolicited advice and catcalls to open abuse and frightening encounters, she—like many lone women runners—experienced a lot, simply for stepping out the door in a pair of shorts and trainers.
As part of the Wastelands Commission, Sophia developed GRIT (and other tales of lone women striders)—a canal-side promenade performance inspired by ‘unsafe runs’ and conversations with other women. GRIT celebrates women who walk, stride and run, challenging the stories that limit women’s freedom to move through public space.
Now, four years on and with two small children, new questions have emerged about motherhood, safety, and space. Her toddler resists off-road paths, dislikes back roads, and fears being outside. Where is the balance between keeping everyone safe and stepping out into the wild with tiny feet alongside? Should she press on, teaching her child to push through fear? Or retreat indoors where it feels safer?
Join Sophia for an evening of creative discussion, performance, folk tales, storytelling, and your own creative response—song, poem, story, reflection—as together we explore what it looks like to take up space when motherhood complicates everything.
What to Expect
- Live performance: Little Butter Pat the Cat, a shapeshifting woman’s tale with live music
- Films and extracts from A Clean Run and GRIT
- Preview of Sophia’s current work: The Black Dog and Other Tales of Motherhood
- Open discussion: motherhood, safety, autonomy, and stepping off the lit path
- Time for you to write/create your own response
- Sharing your creative work in a warm, inclusive space
Who is this for?
Everyone welcome—artists, creatives, runners (or non-runners alike), mothers, folk interested in storytelling, women’s rights, outdoor life, identity, safety. Bring your experiences, curiosity, maybe a notebook, and be ready to step out into conversation (and perhaps off the beaten path).
About In the Balance
In the Balance is an artist-led series of talks, screenings, and creative workshops that radically reposition our relationship with nature. It invites artists commissioned by Urban Wilderness CIC to reflect on how their work has impacted their practice, and how we can make change, connect, and care for people, place, and creative expression.
