An informal, one-to-one chat with Sophia Hatfield.
Hello! I’m Sophia, Storyteller-In-Residence at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. I’m creating a new storytelling performance for the Museum called ‘Learning to Play’, all about the wonderful, terrifying, life changing experience of becoming a parent... but I need your help!
I want to chat to parents, carers, and anyone who’s had their life turned upside down by a small person, a pregnancy, or even just the desire to become a parent. You might be at any stage of your parenting or caring journey.
Most of all, I want to share and swap stories of parenthood and caring to help me shape some of the ideas for the performance.
I’ll be in the Museum on Saturday 29 June, 10am to 4pm, to say hello.
You can drop in on the day at any time, but to help us manage numbers, please register your interest by emailing angela.clare@bronte.org.uk to book a slot.
If you'd prefer to chat with me at a specific time, or if you’d like to let us know about any access requirements, you can do this via email too.
If you can’t make it to the Museum but would still like to chat, I’m more than happy to arrange a phone, Zoom, or an alternative way of connecting. Just contact Angela at the above address and we'll arrange something that works for you!
Photo credit Kate McDonald.
A little bit about my journey…
I’m a storyteller and performer. When I first became pregnant, I was playing Charlotte Brontë in a play I’d written about the Brontë family. I was touring the country, performing nightly, rocking out on my accordion, and having a blast!
When my son was born, everything was turned upside down.
It was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to me, but I also felt completely lost at sea.
This new ocean that surrounded me was awe inspiring. I experienced incredible beauty every day. But it was also terrifying. The sea was vast, there were rolling waves, great storms, and a loneliness I’d never felt before.
The days of performing, touring, and rushing from place to place were no more, I barely had time to touch the tools of my trade and I had to find a new way to make sense of the world.
Slowly, through creativity, support, and a bit of help from the doctor, I was able to navigate my way through those storms and see this for the bold new adventure it was.
By learning to play alongside my son, I began to appreciate this journey and all it offered.
I want to create a safe place for parents and carers to swap and share their stories and journeys. Hopefully by coming together, we can make those occasional stormy days feel a little less lonely.