Bijan Sheibani’s new play, The Cord, explores the intergenerational impact of postpartum psychosis - of becoming a father with knowledge of your own mother’s PP many years before.
Bijan - an award-winning director (Netflix’s One Day, The Arrival, Morning Song) - worked with APP to research the experiences of women who had become grandparents after PP, and of adult children whose mums had experienced PP.
APP’s Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, reviews "The Cord”:
'Most couples, struggling with a new baby, experience sleeplessness, anxiety and burnout, but it is the unsaid in this play which enthrals.
Bijan captures the realities of new fatherhood, motherhood and grandparenthood with beautifully crafted dialogue. Through the comfortable and funny domestic realism, we gradually become aware of an unresolved, unspoken, hinterland - which a new baby has the power to detonate in the present. We witness the newborn’s ability to at once give joy and pleasure, rake up pain; and fracture present relationships: loving son with his mother; husband with his wife; father with his newborn; and son in law with his in-laws. All are affected by the power of this past ‘illness' yet this is only obliquely referred to and remains largely hidden throughout the play.
The postnatal narrative is somewhat turned on its head. We expect the young mother, Anya, to be the one struggling, not her partner, Ash. The slow-burn range of emotions he suffers, as he lives the marginalisation of fatherhood, is set within the context of two typically supportive, doting families, both seemingly operating with the very best of intentions. This normality, with an underbelly hiding something more, makes for an edgy juxtaposition - and has us wanting to scream: “Communicate: things are unravelling!”
Instead, throughout the play, we get weighty pauses and brief superficial responses between all three characters until, like a pressure cooker, the lid comes off. The exchanges between Anya and Ash are so realistic, yet, particularly in Ash's dreams, we realise that something else, something heavier is at play. Ash struggles to find an outlet for his own emotions and mental health experiences in the spaces between the needs of the other characters.
The climax sees Ash finally break down and hit out at his mother about not talking to him about what has been hinted at throughout: the losses, guilt and shame of her postpartum psychosis, and resulting physical disability, some 30 years before. Despite her deep and abiding love for her son and her delight at the arrival of a new grandson, this unspoken experience of mental illness has the power to impact the family many years later. Similarly, the new baby has awakened the memories of postnatal mental illness for Ash's mother who wonders whether she will be accepted as as safe as the normal in-laws.
Who should watch this play:
We wouldn’t recommend this as a watch for anyone newly recovering from PP; those feeling vulnerable, struggling with parenting - or perhaps indeed anyone who has experienced PP and is not yet a grandparent. Postpartum psychosis is not specifically mentioned, just alluded to. It is set at a time when there was much more stigma and secrecy around PP. We feel the play might increase anxiety for people who have had PP about how our adult children will perceive us, or how they may struggle with mental health themselves. It is a story about the journey to fatherhood of one family and the stresses involved when two families become one. While PP is relevant to the family backstory - it’s not a play about PP and not intended to represent the PP experience.
It is a beautifully written, beautifully choreographed, beautifully scored production and will be of interest to anyone with an interest in parenthood, relationships, and the mental health of fathers in particular. It may be of interest to grandparents who had PP many years ago. Similarly, it will be thought-provoking for the adult children of people who have had PP and may reflect - or be in stark contrast - to their own experiences of becoming a parent.'
The Cord is showing at The Bush theatre, Shepherds Bush, London until 25th May 2024. Find out more here.
Lauren-Nicole is an award winning writer and actress who is passionate about raising awareness of PP. Her play BABYNUN XO follows the stories of five sisters as one explores the impact of PP which unites and fractures them further.
Rebecca is a real inspiration, having gone from being a total beginner runner to her first marathon! She started last summer with a 'Couch to 5km' and this weekend she'll be lining up for the most famous marathon in the world. She says:
Luke is taking on the London Marathon as his way of giving something back. He says:
Lee is a familiar face to APP supporters, 
Lauren said: “When I was researching Babynun XO I spent a huge amount of time speaking to APP’s community of women and families affected by postpartum psychosis – a serious postpartum mental illness that affects around 1,400 women each year. I saw first-hand how vital the charity is when it comes to helping people recover from this devastating illness, and I can’t think of a better cause to fundraise for.”
Mollie is an experienced APP fundraiser, having already taken part in the Hackney Half for us last year.
James is our first ever Paris Marathon runner - he's running in memory of one of his sister's closest friends, who lost her life to PP.
Sarah is taking part in the London Landmarks after hearing about our place through a friend at her running club and is aiming for a sub 2 hour marathon this weekend!
Jenna has had a long run up to the London Landmarks - having originally signed up to take part in 2023, she was forced to withdraw due to injury. But Jenna was determined not to be defeated and has trained hard ready for the challenge this year.
Ollie is taking on the Rutland Half to mark 10 years since his wife experienced PP after the birth of their daughter.
For Matt, the Fleetwood 10k this weekend is just the first of several events he is taking on in 2024 as part of his fitness and fundraising challenge for APP.
'The marathon was an amazing experience, one which is hard to describe due to all the highlights – from the support from family and friends, the other runners and the huge crowds shouting everyone's name to the feeling of achievement and thankfulness that it was over’ - Debbie
'I completed 5 triathlons in support of APP finishing with an Olympic distance at the London Tri. The experience of the support and hugging my daughter at the end and being reminded how far I’ve come in recovery was incredible.' - Alice
'The skydive - absolutely amazing and you must do it once in a lifetime!' - Katie
'Smashed the bungee jump! So so scary but what a feeling once you jump!' - Jodie