“And She Made a Child” (En zij maakte een kind) is a theatrical performance by Meral Polat, directed by Nita Kersten, and written by Sarah Sluimer. The artist, Meral Polat, explores the concept of motherhood as both an artist and a ritual. The performance delves into the unique perspective of women in creating and giving birth to a child, a topic often overshadowed by the portrayal of death in literature and the arts. The child in this performance seems to be a metaphore for all creations. The play is a tribute to women.
The narrative emphasizes that while death has been extensively depicted in the arts, the act of giving birth has been neglected on the stage. The play aims to unravel the essence of motherhood, discussing the profound and existential experiences related to the desire, ability, and responsibility of having children across generations.
Meral Polat’s performance provides a profound insight into the creation and delivery of a child, an experience exclusive to women. The focus of the play revolves around women, encompassing mothers, expectant mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, girls, and goddesses. The only male figure mentioned twice in the performance is the supreme god of Greek mythology, Zeus.
The absence of further male energies in the play is not considered a drawback, as the emphasis is not on that aspect. Instead, Meral Polat, an artist known for her total theater approach, invites the audience to witness the process of creating and giving birth to a child, right on the spot. The performance is described as an impressive journey through the tumultuous process of pregnancy, skillfully led by a professional in the field.
Meral Polat, with her Turkish background, incorporates Turkish songs and language, providing a cultural richness to the performance. The text praises her as a skilled professional who navigates the challenging process of pregnancy on stage. The music in the play blends traditional sounds with modern beats, including hiphop and R&B grooves.
Overall, the performance is portrayed as a meticulously crafted production that every woman should see, and even men would benefit from experiencing.
