A new theatre production based on the ARC East of England Lost Mothers project will soon be touring the UK, shedding light on the experiences of imprisoned women who are mandatorily separated from their babies.
The Lost Mothers project seeks to explore the impact of the compulsory separation of women and their babies in prisons, viewed through the perspectives of midwifery, social work, health visiting, and criminal justice professionals. Scenes from Lost Mothers bring to life the experiences of these women through an innovative play that delves into the complexities of maternal separation, the criminal justice system, and access to appropriate care, including mental health and trauma-support. The study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Female prisoners are often the most vulnerable in society, with some from backgrounds of poverty, trauma, abuse, and addiction. There is limited knowledge about this group, especially pregnant prisoners, with data only covering the number of pregnant women in prisons since 2021. During 2023-2024, there were 229 pregnant women in prisons, and 53 gave birth during their sentence. Women can apply to stay with their babies in Mother and Baby Units, available in just six of the 12 women's prisons, for up to 18 months. However, their applications can be rejected.
Research shows that separating mothers from their babies can lead to severe mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide. Yet there is no standard guidance for prison and social care professionals on how to best support mothers during this process. The Lost Mothers project, led by the University of Hertfordshire’s Dr. Laura Abbott, is an important step towards supporting this marginalised group.
“Through interviews with women in prison, prison staff, social workers, midwives, and health visitors, the Lost Mother’s project has uncovered a multifaceted perspective on how decisions about mothers and babies are made in the prison system. Our research aims not only to understand but to spark action, so the voices of women are central to decision-making processes in the justice system."
Dr. Laura Abbott, Principal Investigator of the Lost Mothers project
Award-winning playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti wrote Scenes from Lost Mothers. Gurpreet worked in collaboration with Birth Companions, a charity that aims to tackle inequalities for women and their babies, and a theatre company, Clean Break, that works with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system. The play's cast consists of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system or who were at risk of entering it.
“When speaking to mothers in prison, I came to realise that our broken system simply perpetuates another kind of brokenness. I saw how becoming a mother could unlock fresh potential in women, but that sense of hope was too often crushed by the oppressive patterns and structures which are part of daily life in an institution.
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Playwright of Scenes of Lost Mothers
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti continues, "It’s time for radical action and for the justice system to start viewing mothers and pregnant women as human beings instead of problems that cannot be solved.”
The ongoing Lost Mothers study has so far conducted over 70 interviews with women and staff across five prisons and five Mother and Baby Decision-Making Boards. These interviews informed Scenes from Lost Mothers, vividly depicting the realities of enforced separation. The study's four public contributors, all of whom have lived experience with pregnancy, motherhood, and/or being separated from their babies due to imprisonment, have been integral to shaping the play.
Laura, the Principal Investigator of the Lost Mothers study, wanted to explore the use of plays as a way of sharing their findings from the research and connect the audiences to the stories of these women who are often “invisible.” The show hopes to spark conversations around imprisonment for pregnant women and new mothers and bridge the gap between knowledge and real-world application for meaningful change. The play is extremely timely, with the UK Government recently announcing the launch of a Women’s Justice Board to address the distinct needs of women in the criminal justice system.
“Scenes from Lost Mothers powerfully brings women’s voices to life, and spotlights many of the cruel injustices experienced by mothers and babies separated by our criminal justice system. Prisons will never be a safe or appropriate place for mothers of infants; they harm women’s mental and physical health and prevent them from giving their babies the best start in life.
Naomi Delap, Director of Birth Companions
Naomi Delap continues, "Scenes from Lost Mothers should guide us all, across systems and services, as we push for an end to the imprisonment of mothers of infants.”
The 30-minute play will be touring the UK from 1 February to 31 March 2025 and is open to all adults interested in or working in this area. The tour will commence at the University of Hertfordshire on 6 February 2025, including:
- Monday 10 February - University of Birmingham
- Tuesday 11 February - University of East Anglia (tickets available)
- Tuesday 18 February - University of Bedfordshire
Clean Break is currently taking bookings for the show. For more information and costs, contact Dezh Zhelyazkova (dezh.zhelyazkova@cleanbreak.org.uk.
