Tell me, Mother
Tell me, Mother is an original choral and physical-theater work about motherhood, presented up close in Arlekin Players Theatre’s Needham studio. Devised and directed by Yana Gladkikh, the premiere explores motherhood as a primal and spiritual state shaped by shared memory, joy, trauma, and humor.
Drawing on lived experience, personal testimonials, and poetry by Gabriela Mistral, the performance combines choral work, physical theater, dance, and spoken word. Individual stories of mothers are transformed into broader, universal experiences shared by the performers and audience.
When: Previews begin November 17, 2026. The opening night is November 19, 2026, and performances continue through December 13, 2026.
Showtimes: Previews are Tuesday, November 17, and Wednesday, November 18, at 7:30 p.m. The regular run takes place November 19–22 and December 10–13. Thursday and Friday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday performances are at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday performances are at 1 p.m.
Tickets: Preview general admission is $30, with Director’s Choice VIP assigned seating available for $50. During the regular run, general admission is $65, and Director’s Choice VIP assigned seating is $99.
Language: Performed in Russian with English supertitles.
Lineup: Arlekin’s resident company performs the piece, including Julia Shikh, Polina Dubovikova, Olga Sokolova, Irina Knyazhitskaya, Olga Aronova, Rimma Gluzman, Polina Vasserman, Anna Furman, Jenya Brodskaia, and Irina Vilenchik.
Creative Team: Yana Gladkikh devised and directed the performance. Choreography is by Suli Holum, a director, performer, choreographer, playwright, Pig Iron Theatre Company co-founder, and performer in Woolly Mammoth’s 2024 production My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion. The soundscape was created by Bryce Somerville and Victor McSurely, both Blue Man Group Boston alumni. Lisa Hackman is the producer.
Capacity: Each performance is limited to 40 seats.
Venue: Arlekin Players Theatre, 368 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Needham.
Note: This premiere is presented as a special fundraising project, with proceeds supporting Arlekin’s mission.