Mothers in Theatre: Roles and Realities

Mother’s Day Around the World: Celebrating Mothers in Theatre

The 11th of May in Germany, South Africa, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Chile, China, Cyprus, Finland, the US, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay…
The 19th of October in Argentina…
The 25th of May in France, Gabon and Haïti…
The 30th of March in Ireland and the UAE…

The day may be different, but the holiday is the same: Mother’s Day.

For this special occasion, Theatre in Paris invites you to discover the many roles of mothers in theatre, musicals, ballet and opera.
Whatever the date may be for Mother's Day, it is always important to pay homage to the women that we owe everything to.

Mothers in Theatre

Richard III by Shakespeare
Queen Elizabeth Woodville in Shakespeare's play represents calm and protective strength. She embodies a determined and devoted mother for her children. We witness a woman who loves her children above all, defending Edward V, Richard, Duke of York, and Elizabeth of York, particularly during her confrontation with Richard.

The Satin Slipper by Paul Claudel
Doña Prouhèze in Paul Claudel’s The Satin Slipper is a mother full of passion and devotion. Her love is often thwarted by tragic events but she fights to offer a better life to her daughter (Marie des Sept-Épées). This character represents the sacrificial love and devotion that a mother can offer. You can see this show at La Comédie-Française until March 30th, 2025 — Click here to see our show page!

Learned Women by Molière
Philaminte is a central character in Molière's Les Femmes Savantes. She is an authoritarian woman with a passion for knowledge, imposing a somewhat rigid view of scholarship on her household. Blinded by her admiration for the pedant Trissotin, she opposes the marriage of her daughter Henriette. Her intellectual obsession borders on the ridiculous - but, ultimately, she wants the best for her children.

The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
Lioubov Andreevna Ranevskaïa in Anton Chekhov's play, performed by Florence Viala, currently at the Comédie-Française. Lioubov Andreevna Ranevskaïa is the heroine of *The Cherry Orchard* by Chekhov. A ruined aristocrat, she embodies nostalgia and blindness to social changes. Attached to her family estate, she refuses to acknowledge its imminent loss. Her carefreeness and tragic past make her a character both moving and pathetic.

Mothers in Musicals

Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Fantine is a tragic and central character in Les Misérables, the novel by Victor Hugo, and its musical adaptation by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. In the musical, Fantine is a young woman abandoned by her lover and forced to provide for her daughter, Cosette, on her own. Fantine embodies social injustice and maternal sacrifice, and her story is one of the most poignant in the work.

Mamma Mia by Catherine Johnson
Mamma Mia’s Donna Sheridan is a determined and independent woman, who raises her daughter alone, with unconditional love. Donna represents a mother’s resilience and strength and struggles to offer a fulfilling life to her child. This fantastic musical will be performing at La Seine Musicale in Paris in April 2025.

Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
In Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, three maternal figures shape the musical. The Witch is Rapunzel’s adoptive mother; she is possessive and protective, fearing having to part with her. Her consuming love leads to their tragic separation. Jack’s mother is a pragmatic and strict woman who encourages her son to take responsibility but dies abruptly, leaving Jack to fend for himself. Finally, Cinderella’s mother is a benevolent figure who guides Cinderella through a magical tree, offering wisdom and spiritual support.

The Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music is initially a housekeeper who then becomes the adoptive mother of the Trapp children. She gives them love, joy and affection and succeeds in bringing joy to the family. This character is a symbol of a mother’s unconditional love and highlights the importance of education and family support.

Mothers in Ballet

The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Clara’s mother dans The Nutcracker represents tenderness and protection. She watches over her daughter through her adventures, offering her child discrete and loving emotional support. This ballet will be playing in Palais des Congrès in Paris in January 2026.

Giselle by Adolphe Adam and Jean Coralli
Isabelle’s mother in Giselle: love and maternal emotion is at the heart of this ballet. She looks out for her child and guides her through life and highlights the importance of a safe household and family environment.

Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev
The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella embodies a benevolent and important figure to Cinderella. She behaves as a mother for the young woman who had never experienced maternal love before. She protects and helps Cinderella achieve her dreams. The Fairy Godmother represents hope and benevolence (apart from in Shrek!).

Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Queen in Sleeping Beauty. Mother of Princess Aurora, she is loving to her daughter. A protective mother, the Queen is wise and worries when a curse is cast on her daughter. She represents a mother’s sense of stability and prevention.
Click here to see this ballet playing at Opéra Bastille in Paris from March to July 2025!

Mothers in Opera

Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
In Madame Butterfly, Cio-Cio-San, a young geisha in love with the American lieutenant Pinkerton, is willing to sacrifice everything for her son. She represents pure and tragic love. A magnificent soprano role!

Les Sentinelles by Clara Olivares
This contemporary opera is centred around a mother-daughter relationship. It showcases the tensions and challenges a mother and her daughter can experience. The mother’s character embodies resilience and strength through her struggle to preserve her daughter’s innocence.
Click here to see the opera playing at Opéra Comique in Paris in April 2025!

Louise by Martin Zimmermann
In Louise by Gustave Charpentier, Louise's mother is an authoritative and protective figure. Wanting to shield her daughter from the dangers of Parisian bohemia, she opposes her love for Julien. Her maternal love, tinged with control and social fear, embodies the conflict between family duty and individual freedom. Catch the great French mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch, performing this challenging role outdoors at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché.
Click here to see this opera at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence until July 2025!

Whether as strong women or sacrificial figures, mothers have always held a central place in operas, ballets, and musicals. And rightly so—their influence shapes us all! This year, France will celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, 25 May. If you're in Paris, don't miss the chance to honour your dear mother with a wonderful show—one in which she might even see a bit of herself! Vive toutes les mères ! Vive la fête des Mères !

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