How Marcé Underwood's 'I Want to call you daddy' explores the journey of motherhood

Marcé Underwood brings her debut play, I Want to Call You Daddy, to the stage - a personal one-woman show that fuses original poetry, raw storytelling, soulful music, and expressive movement into a theatrical experience, at  Artscape Theatre, from Wednesday, August 6 to Saturday, August 9.

Ms Underwood, a Heathfield resident, had been writing poetry, performing with words, and singing since age nine.

“My creative voice, nurtured through a lifetime of expression, became both my refuge and my compass during those challenging years. Now, I'm ready to tell our story with the hard-won wisdom only lived experience can bring,” she said.

The turning point in her life came with the birth of her first child nearly thirteen years ago. 

“For nine  years as a single mother, I walked the difficult path - navigating maintenance courts, relying on public transport, juggling multiple jobs, and raising my daughter alone in a Mowbray granny flat while completing my music degree. Through all of it, I held onto the certainty that our circumstances would improve, and that one day I would transform our struggles into art.”

Ms Underwood has been performing since childhood, starting with family shows and school Eisteddfods.

“My journey took off in Grade 10 when I earned a full scholarship to the South African youth choir, leading to two transformative years at Stellenberg High, in Bellville, and international tours to the UK and Wales. With over 15 years of experience, I still carry those early lessons - the discipline, the artistry, and the joy of sharing my voice with others,” she said.

Ms Underwood grew up in Kuilsriver, where her musical journey began after high school with Miss Lizette Wilson, a remarkable teacher her mom found through a local newsletter.

"She trained me classically and helped me unlock an operatic voice I never knew I had. More than a teacher, she was a mentor who nurtured both my talent and dreams.

“Later, at UCT, Professor Virginia Davids offered the same warmth and belief in me - support that carried me through even my toughest moments,” she said.

After having her daughter in her final year, “I returned to complete my recital exam and later shifted into education - earning my Honours and now pursuing a Master’s. None of it would’ve been possible without my parents’ unwavering support. Their guidance helped shape me into the resilient performer and educator I am today,” said Ms Underwood.

Poetry has become her “gateway” into playwriting. 

“As a newcomer to theatre, I find the industry both exhilarating and intimidating. I don't claim to be a conventional playwright; instead, I'm carving my own path where verse and dialogue intertwine organically,” she said.

After five years of growth and change, Ms Underwood said: “I went from sharing a one-bedroom granny flat in Mowbray with her daughter to building a new chapter.

“I’m now married - love found me when my daughter was nine, and I’m grateful she could grow up experiencing family. We’ve since welcomed a son, who’s now three years old.

“My play speaks to more than just single mothers - it’s for anyone who’s felt the joys and challenges of raising a child. There’s something in it for every parent.”

While writing this play, she said she was already envisioning the next, a follow-up exploring womanhood and its challenges.

“I hope to have it ready by the end of next year. For now, I’m focused on taking 'I want to call you daddy' to international festivals like Afrovibes in the Netherlands and local events such as the Grahamstown Festival.”

Readers can win tickets to I Want to Call You Daddy. To enter, email tickets.iwantcallyoudaddy@gmail.com and share what you’ve grown to love about parenthood - challenges and all. 

For more information or to book at Webtickets or call 073 573 6935.