Mums in the West End have a lot on their plate. Whether they’re single parents trying to cover for an absentee father, trying to create a better life for their children or just dealing with the aftermath of something silly that their children have done, there’s no wonder that West End mums have some of the most powerful and emotive songs in the shows.
To celebrate how amazing mums are, we’ve collated wise words from some of our favourite West End mums of past and present.
Margaret New, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Melissa Jacques as Margaret. Photo by Matt Crockett
“I’m going to tell you to do it; just do it.”
Don’t tell our mum, but we secretly wish Margaret New was also our mum too.
Supportive of her high-heeled son’s dreams of being a drag queen, Margaret goes above and beyond to make sure her son has the dress, the shoes, and most importantly, the confidence to go out as Mimi at her first ever show.
With an upsetting past pushing her to want the best for her son, Margaret’s songs are full of pain, passion, and ultimately love for her son. Warning for those who haven’t seen the show, pack your tissues for “If I Met Myself Again”, and “My Man, Your Boy”.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be returning from June, so if you’re looking for a show to see with your Mum when theatres reopen, this could be a real winner!
Beverley Bass, Come From Away
Alice Fearn (as Beverley Bass) and the cast of Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre . Credit Craig Sugden
“No one saying, “You can’t” or “You won’t” or “You know you’re not anything ’cause you’re a girl.”
Although we never see Beverley’s children on stage, she has two children with her husband, Tom.
The first female American captain in history, Beverley’s persistence to not give up in the face of adversity (and pilots asking her to make them drinks), as well as her courage, make her an incredible role model for not just her children, but for women worldwide.
Beverley may have been told she couldn’t become a pilot because she was a girl, but she certainly proved her doubters wrong! In fact, Rachel Tucker, who previously played Beverley in the show, was nominated for an Olivier Award in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical category in 2019 for her portrayal of this incredible woman!
Hermione, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
Michelle Gayle (as Hermione Granger), Rayxia Ojo (as Rose Granger-Weasley) and Thomas Aldridge (as Ron Weasley)
“He’ll hug you. Because we’re all on the same team, aren’t we, Ron?”
It’s safe to say that Harry, Ron and Hermione have certainly faced their fair share of danger. Quite frankly, it’s a miracle that they managed to reach adulthood in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child at all!
Obviously, we’re #keepingthesecrets here in terms of plot, but Hermione’s consistent ability from the start of the whole saga to resolve tensions, remove un-necessary drama from within a friendship group and generally keep the team together, is sure to have set a great example for her children.
Donna Sheridan, Mamma Mia!
Kirsty Hoiles (as Tanya), Mazz Murray (as Donna), Ricky Butt (as Rosie) in Mamma Mia! (Photo Credit: Brinkhoff)
“You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life.”
Our West End mums don’t just have to deal with dramas and dilemmas; they also know how to have fun and let their hair down. And no other West End mum does this better than Donna, Sophie’s mum in Mamma Mia!
Even when she’s surrounded by her ex-boyfriends on her daughter’s wedding day, Donna and her dynamo ladies still manage to find time to dance, sing and enjoy the day…all while rocking a sparkly catsuit.
Jenna, Waitress
Marisha Wallace, Lucie Jones and Ashley Roberts in Waitress (Photo credit: Johan Persson)
“Dreams come and they go, but hold them and keep them, and know that you need them.”
Jenna is a big dreamer. She dreams of setting up her own pie shop, dreams of leaving her unhappy marriage, and, when she finds out she’s pregnant, dreams of a better life for her and her baby.
This desire to follow her dreams, and never forget them, even in the toughest times, help her become an incredible pie maker (we’re talking Bake Off winner levels of good), as well as a fantastic friend and mum. Throughout the show, Jenna is determined for her dreams to come true, so she and her baby can have a happy life.
Sadly, Waitress has ended its run in the West End but Jenna will always be one of our fave Mums and we can’t wait for the UK tour to begin!
Mother’s Day Theatre Tokens gifts
If your Mum is as stagey as you are or if you’d like to celebrate a loved one Mother’s Day, why not book them tickets to see a show? Just check out our Theatre Tickets page to see what’s on sale or gift her a special Mother’s Day Theatre Token which come in the form of an e-Gift and you can even add on a special card if you’d prefer to send the token to her in the mail!
Our Theatre Tokens have absolutely no expiry date. So if you’re not ready to purchase tickets to a show just yet, you can feel confident that you will be able to see one at more than 260 venues across the country, including London’s West End, as soon as we reopen.
Society Of London Theatre and UK Theatre are not-for-profit organisations and we have run Theatre Tokens for 36 years. As theatre fans, you can rest reassured that every penny you spend with us is supporting the industry when we need it most both now and in the future – so thank you and we hope you have a memorable Mother’s Day with your loved ones!