Surrender - by Sophie Swithinbank & Phoebe Ladenburg (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Mother is in prison. Daughter has come to visit. Closely watched by security, they have one hour to undo the damage of eleven years of separation.

Surrender explores what it takes to survive in a punishing and dysfunctional penal system when your child is on the outside.

A collaboration between writer Sophie Swithinbank and director/performer Phoebe Ladenburg, the play opened at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2024, before playing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Review Quotes

"A powerful drama exploring the demonisation of single mothers... probing, exposing and frightening... as enraging as it is engrossing... astute writing... a warning cry." --The Stage

"Subtle and compassionate." --LondonTheatre1

"Intriguing and engaging... a carefully crafted and moving story." --Reviews Hub

"A thought-provoking piece of theatre." --Broadway World

"Powerful... casts a stark light on the often-overlooked vulnerability of new mothers in crisis." --Everything Theatre

About the Author

Sophie Swithinbank is a playwright whose work includes: Surrender (Arcola Theatre, London, & Summerhall, Edinburgh, 2024); Bacon (Finborough Theatre, London, 2022; winner of Soho Theatre's Tony Craze Award); Circle Game (Oxford School of Drama, shortlisted for the Phil Fox Award 2020); Even In Arcadia (longlisted for the Verity Bargate Award); The Fellowship (Picturedrome, University of Northampton); Where There Is Smoke (National Theatre Learning); Come Inside (Bush Theatre, London) and The Superhero (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith).

She teaches Playwriting at the University of Northampton.

Phoebe Ladenburg is an actor, director and theatre-maker.

Her play Surrender, co-created with the playwright Sophie Swithinbank, was premiered at the Arcola Theatre, London, in 2024.