23 Sep – 16 Oct 2025
Otherhood
Old Bird Theatre
A story of radical love and found family.
- BSL interpreted
- Audio described
- Touch tour
A grieving widow and a queer millennial discover the power of finding family in unexpected places. This poignant and funny new play explores the heartaches and joys of aging child-free.
About the project
Join Old Bird Theatre for an immersive theatre experience and soundscape mixed with real life stories. Otherhood switches between the here and now and an audio storytelling realm where we travel in time to an imagined fantastical Bradford.
Children or no children, we all matter, and we all leave a meaningful mark.
Otherhood will be showing at various venues across Bradford this Autumn.
- Tuesday 23 September – Beacon at Lister Park 7:30pm
- Friday 26 September – Thornton Community Centre 7:30pm
- Saturday 27 September – Caroline Street Social Club 7:30pm
- Friday 3 October – Keighley Creative 7:30pm
- Saturday 4 October – Mind the Gap 7:30pm
- Thursday 16 October – Bradford Arts Centre 7.30pm
About the artist
Writer Emma Adams and Director Deborah Pakkar-Hull set up Old Bird in January 2025 to create disobedient, playful and relevant work inspired by their home city of Bradford and the people within it, to surprise, delight, inspire and connect.
Deborah is a Bradford-based Director, Theatre Maker and Researcher, specialising in small-scale, collaborative touring work. She was previously the Artistic Director of Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, The Birmingham Play House and the York Mystery Plays and has recently worked with Libellule Theatre and Victoria Firth and Company.
Emma is a queer, neurodiverse playwright and screenwriter from Bradford. She’s written plays to be performed in houses, libraries, swimming pools and graveyards (and on stages too). Emma has worked with Leeds Playhouse, Opera North, Red Ladder, Slung Low, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Theatre 503, Freedom Studios, Ovalhouse, Paines Plough, Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, Bradford City of Culture 2025 programme launch, Longboat Pictures, Shiny Button, ITV and CBBC.
Introductory notes
Listen to an audio described introduction to Otherhood below.
Audio Description
Listen to an audio described flyer for Otherhood below – you can read the full transcription here.
Arist-Led Project Awards
This project is supported by the Bradford 2025 Artist-led Project Awards programme.
Find out more about this programme and the projects we’ve supported below.
Writing for wellbeing workshops
Writing for Wellbeing workshops will be running alongside this show. Find out more here or email Old Bird for more information: [email protected]
Access
Join our access scheme to view access tickets or contact our Ticketing team for more information.Sign up →
BSL Interpreted - 23 September
The performance of Otherhood at The Beacon on 23 Tuesday 23 September will have BSL (British Sign Language) interpretation.
Embedded Audio Description
This event will have embedded audio description in English.
Touch Tour - 4 October
The performance of Otherhood at Mind The Gap on Saturday 4 October will include a touch tour, from 6pm-6.30pm.
Past event
Were you at this event?
Complete our feedback form and let us know what you thought.
Share your feedbackRelated Events
23 Oct - 2 Nov 2025
Elmet
The Javaad Alipoor Company
An explosive Northern drama – created especially for Bradford 2025 by The Javaad Alipoor Company.
7-9 Nov 2025
We Are Still ASAFO
Theatre In Flow
A theatre performance with live music and dance, that reminds us we are never truly alone.
8 Nov 2025
Smoke-Blackened Walls & Curlews
Matthew Bourne, Ben Cottrell & Keeley Forsyth
A portrait of the West Riding through poetry, music, and improvisation.
8 Oct - 26 Nov 2025
Heart and Hands Studio
A series of free creative workshops
28 Nov 2025