New work 2025:
MAIDEN MOTHER MAGE
Heaven is a group project
Artwork: 'Maiden Mother Mage' © Frances Law
​MAIDEN MOTHER MAGE is a site-specific performance by actors, with live original score.
A poetic reimagining of Thaney, later known as St Teneu / Tenew, or St Enoch. A recovery of power, identity and voice.
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Written, directed & produced by Rebecca Sharp. Supported by Creative Scotland & partners. ​​
Score composed and performed by Alex South.
Artwork by Frances Law. Costume by Jessica Brettle.
Lighting by David Venters. BSL interpretation by Lisa Li.
The book of the text is published by Matecznik Press.
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Performances take place at Culross Abbey in Fife (17-19 July 2025) and at Glasgow Cathedral (Glasgow Cathedral Festival, 18 September 2025).
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NEXT DATE: Thursday 18 September 2025, 7pm ~ Glasgow Cathedral.
With Glasgow Cathedral Festival, BOOKING OPEN NOW.
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The book 'Maiden Mother Mage' is now available to buy online from Matecznik Press.
Read a review and see some images from the performances at Culross Abbey, here (Dunfermline Press).
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Culross performances (now past) were:
Thurs 17th July (7pm) - Premiere & book launch
Fri 18th July (7pm) - St Teneu's feast day.
Plus after-show talk with special guest & complimentary herbal tea.
Sat 19th July (2pm & 7pm) - both performances with BSL interpretation by Lisa Li.
Pre-show for the Saturday matinee included an optional guided walk along a short portion of the Fife Pilgrim Way, leading to the Abbey - provided by Iwan Thomas & Fife Coast & Countryside Trust.​
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CAST:
Israela Efomi, 'Maiden' / Thaney
Taylor Dyson, 'Mother' / Teneu
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Fletcher Mathers, 'Mage' / Enoch (Culross)
Heather Cochrane, 'Mage' / Enoch (Glasgow)
ABOUT:
Thaney was a 6th century CE Brittonic princess, daughter of Leudonis or King Lot at Traprain Law in the Kingdom of Gododdin (Lothian). She holds many stories, connecting her to pagan and Druidic roots, and to Arthurian legend - but never in her own words. Cherished by many, today she is venerated in the Christian faith as Saint Teneu or Thaney, Protector of the Abused; and as St Enoch of Glasgow, mother of St Mungo.
According to legend, at the age of seventeen Thaney was raped, and upon discovering she was pregnant, was thrown from Traprain Law as punishment, either by her father or upon his orders. She survived the fall to be punished a second time (some say was accused of witchcraft), placed in an oarless boat and set into the Firth of Forth at Aberlady Bay. She again survived to wash ashore at Culross in Fife, where she was taken in by St Serf, founder of an early church (later the site of Culross Abbey). There she had her son, Kentigern / Mungo, who would go on to found the city of Glasgow.
Varying accounts and claims to her story persist: Thaney enters myth, both human being and story-bearer. Fact grows indiscernible from fiction, and Thaney holds the space between.
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We wonder what role she would choose for herself now, as she rises during times of violence and abuses of power.
We meet her here in triple form: as MAIDEN (exiled girl of seventeen), MOTHER (of Mungo and other creations), and MAGE (shaman, abbess, Cailleach).
Giving voice to the outcast and voiceless, Thaney shows us how we might repair divisions that were cast upon us all so long ago.
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Maiden Mother Mage: the tea! Commissioned to accompany the performance, Fife holistic herbalist Rosemary Rose created a bespoke herbal tea blend, which was served at some of the Culross performances, also available to buy (contact Rosemary Rose to enquire for future purchases).
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In the Press:
Dunfermline Press : Fife-based writer creates performance on Culross saint
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Historic Scotland members' magazine:
Summer 2025, Bringing Tenew Home feature article.
"A figure of faith and resilience, St Tenew was the mother of Glasgow's
patron saint, St Mungo, yet her story is one of Scotland's lesser-known
histories. Rebecca Sharp, author of a new performance about Thaney,
Maiden Mother Mage, explores her legacy."​
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​​​​Kris Hughes, YouTube interview: Part 1 & Part 2.
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Project partners are Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow Cathedral Festival; alongside Project Champions Fife Writes and the Centre for Poetic Innovation, community partners Fife Coast & Countryside Trust (for the Fife Pilgrim Way), and project patrons.
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*Satellite events*:
Thursday 1st May: Hosted by Fife Writes, RS gave an informal talk on creative project design and management. 6.30pm-8.30pm St John's Church, Cupar. Free to members of Fife Writes, or £5.
Saturday 28th June: Platform Poetry (Tayport, Fife). 2-4pm. RS read preview extracts from Maiden Mother Mage alongside other new work. Novelist Victoria MacKenzie also read. Info here.
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WORKSHOPS: Accompanying the project is a community workshop strand, supported by and delivered with Historic Environment Scotland. 'Thaney's Haven: our journeys, our stories, ourselves' saw RS working with women's groups in East Lothian, Fife and Glasgow through the early part of 2025. Their work explores issues of identity in transition over time and personal experience, and is on display at both venues (Culross & Glasgow) during performances of Maiden Mother Mage.
