My Mad Mum
A new theatre production by Next Door But One in partnership with Our Time Charity
Following the powerful impact of How To Be A Kid in 2025, award-winning theatre company Next Door But One reunites with Our Time Charity to present My Mad Mum - a bold, fast-paced and deeply relatable new play for teenagers.
Blending humour, honesty and heart, My Mad Mum explores friendship, identity, and what it really means to grow up when life at home isn’t simple.
About the Show
Everyone knows Andy. And everyone knows his mum.
The looks. The whispers. The rumours that follow him everywhere. Andy is used to it - or at least, he pretends to be.
When Harper, the new girl, arrives at school, things finally start to feel different. Finally, somebody gets him. But as their friendship gets real, their worlds crash into each other and the truth comes out. And once it’s out, there’s no taking it back.
Across the UK, 1 in 3 children grows up with a parent experiencing mental illness. For many, this brings challenges that are often unseen - both at home and at school.
This production builds on the success of previous work by Next Door But One and Our Time Charity, which demonstrated real and lasting impact:
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91% of young audiences said the show helped them talk about their feelings and mental health.
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94% said it helped them identify a trusted adult they could turn to for support.
From May 2026, My Mad Mum will tour secondary schools across York and North Yorkshire.
There will also be two public performances of My Mad Mum:
📍 York Explore
📅 13 & 14 May
🕠 5:30pm