Niplash

A dance theatre solo conceived, laboured, and birthed by Karla Shacklock.

Developed on Complicité’s Mudlarks International Residency.

Liberation via lactivism! Both healing balm and urgent battle cry, Niplash dives into the societal pressures, insane mixed messaging, and unconditional love surrounding infant feeding*. Expect to see milk, tears, and confetti.

Karla shares her experience of feeding three children and weaves into the show stories and feeding paraphernalia kindly donated by dozens of m/others across the country. Niplash is for the mum who was spat at for bottle feeding her baby in the street, the mum told to put her tits away in a café, the mum scorned for feeding a baby with different skin colour to her own, the mum who only dare pump for her baby with the curtains closed at home.

For all the m/others. For all of us.

* Niplash is a show that explores how we feed our children, this includes breast, chest, and formula milk feeding. The show does not place one form of feeding above another and seeks to acknowledge the myriad of experiences and complex journeys.

PRE-SHOW WORKSHOP

Join us for a gentle, creative workshop designed for parents and carers with babies (0–2).

Held is a relaxed space to pause, reflect and connect—both with yourself and with others navigating early parenthood. Through simple collage, mark-making and guided creative prompts, we’ll explore the shifts, challenges and quiet joys of caring for a young child.

After the workshop, you’re invited to stay for a relaxed bring-your-own lunch—a chance to sit, chat and build a sense of community before the performance.

POST-SHOW DISCUSSION

Following the performance there will be an informal and warmly facilitated post-show activity hosted by Lerato Dunn.

DONATION BANK

If you have any unwanted feeding equipment (bottles, pumps, teats, pads, bras etc) that you would like to add to the tapestry of Niplash, then please do bring them along and place them in the donation bank. They may get used in a performance, installation, or woven into our huge Lactivist flag that we will be flying proudly around the country. Thank you.

QUOTES

“Niplash is the best piece of theatre I’ve ever seen. Astounding, hilarious, and hard hitting. An absolute dream of a show, exploring a complex subject through stunning visuals, thrilling movement, and a generous splash of comedy” Katie Villa, Curator of Reclaim Festival

“Niplash is a rare example of a show totally in sync with its audience – an astonishing experience.” Sam Parker, Producer, Exeter Northcott Theatre

“Nourishing, empowering, and political, Niplash leaves you deeply moved, with a sense of something shifting inside.” Lucy Webber, Lactation Consultant and Author