Equal parts historical and hysterical, all heaving harmonies and tipsy candour, explore the history of gin through story and song. Stumble and soar through tales of love and women, gin and secrets, as we wind our way through 18th Century London, a few New York speakeasies, the Australian bush and the jungles of Peru, via sailors and barmaids, bootleggers and master distillers. Two stars of Australian cabaret move from misery to vaudeville in a moment, intertwining excess and prohibition, history and (re)invention.

Libby Wood and Maeve Marsden toured their critically acclaimed theatrical cabaret Mother’s Ruin for four years, across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. In 2018, they adapted the show into a wildly fun variety night, Hot Gin Punch, hosting a mixed bag (or mixed drink!) of incredible talent, for a looser, late night cabaret.

Mother’s Ruin and Hot Gin Punch have sold out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Sydney Festival, Sydney Opera House, Darwin Festival, Brisbane Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Fringe World Festival Perth, Adelaide Fringe and Festival of Voices, among others, enjoying three sold out UK tours.

The original production was directed by Anthea Williams, and co-written with Elly Baxter.

“It’s the range, depth, and content of the stories Marsden and Wood tell us, along with the gorgeous harmony of their pure voices, that linger once the cabaret is over… Proud and unapologetic, beautiful and powerful.”
★★★★★Time Out
“These three are supremely talented, musically and comedically”
★★★★★Theatre Bath
“Marsden and Wood maintain a spot-on balance of larky humour, bolshy political consciousness, palpable passion for their subject and sheer joie de vivre”
★★★★The Scotsman
“Blisteringly entertaining… Marsden and Wood’s voices blend into a single, warm and bright sound… It’s almost as though the excellent children’s show Horrible Histories was made for grown-ups and laced with booze… Not everybody falls in love with gin, but I can’t imagine too many audience members could resist the charms of Mother’s Ruin.”
★★★★★Daily Review
“A rare gem of cabaret gold."
★★★★★Edinburgh Guide
“A raucous masterclass.”
★★★★★one4review
“To say Marsden and Wood work well together is an understatement. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.”
Radio Adelaide
"I could’ve listened to those two sing all night long… Both sung with such diction and verve, and in flawless harmony; they seemed completely in sync.”
InDaily
“Libby Wood and Maeve Marsden have voices as big as their ample bosoms… Marsden and Wood manage to have the audience simultaneously in stitches of laughter and marvelling at their almost symbiotic harmonies.”
The Adelaide Advertiser
“Marsden and Wood have a commanding presence on stage. Creative, daring and full of flair… Not only vocally sublime but a stroke of comedy genius…. Mother’s Ruin may be a loving ode to a favourite spirit, but you do not need to be a gin drinker to appreciate its brilliance.”
Theatre Press
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