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The 'Last Taboo of Motherhood’ audio plays are now available online

The artistic collaboration explores how women, their families, ‘experts’, and the wider community tell stories about motherhood and mental distress. The three audio-pieces produced from this exciting collaboration between historians and artists have been informed by a variety of historical sources, including first hand testimonies - oral histories and written narratives - from women who have experienced postnatal mental illness.

Written by Bryony Kimmings, Courtney Conrad and Sara Shaarawi, these pieces probe vital questions about women’s experiences of mental illness and the pervasive culture of silence that has existed around maternal mental health. It provokes reflections into how history might prompt new insights into our responses to postnatal mental illness today.

There are several ways to listen to the audios:

The audio plays discuss distressing subjects, including postnatal mental illness, infanticide and death and we recommend that they are suitable for ages 16+.

• You can access them directly
• You can access them on (You can listen free of charge, but need to register on the Fuel Digital website and purchase the audios for ‘0’ charge.)
• You can listen on
• For more details of the audio tour and audience feedback