HomeArts & LifestyleFirst look at Leeds Playhouse's Be My Baby

First look at Leeds Playhouse’s Be My Baby

Leeds Playhouse has provided a glimpse into Be My Baby as the production enters its final phase of rehearsal before opening on Saturday 11th May.

19-year old Mary is seven months pregnant when her mother delivers her into the charge of St Saviours. As Mary, Dolores, Queenie and Norma bond over records and romance, they begin to understand what it means to give their children to the Welfare Service and Mary realises she must fight to take her baby home…

Tessa Parr and Jo Mousley in rehearsals for Be My Baby. Photography by Anthony Robling
Tessa Parr and Jo Mousley in rehearsals for Be My Baby. Credit: Anthony Robling.

“For the final production in the Pop-Up theatre our ensemble is joined by Anna Gray who plays Norma,” explains Director, Jacqui Honess-Martin.

“Anna is an actor with learning disabilities, and sometimes learning names is a challenge, to help her not feel too much like the new girl we are all wearing named t-shirts – we’ve had a great time personalising them!”

Assistant Director Kirsty Pennycook, Anna Gray and Assistant Diredtor Lucy Campbell in rehearsals for Be My Baby. Photography by Anthony Robling
Assistant Director Kirsty Pennycook, Anna Gray and Assistant Diredtor Lucy Campbell. Credit: Anthony Robling.

Anna Gray is a resident artist with Mind the Gap theatre company – one of the country’s largest learning disability theatre companies that has championed learning-disabled arts for 30 years. The production is presented in association with Mind the Gap and the project is a continuation of a longstanding relationship between them and Leeds Playhouse.

Director Jacqui Honess-Martin in rehearsals for Be My Baby. Photography by Anthony Robling
Director Jacqui Honess-Martin in rehearsals for Be My Baby. Credit: Anthony Robling.

The female Ensemble Company is Tessa Parr, fresh from her role in the critically acclaimed Hamlet. She is joined by Anna Gray as Norma, Jo Mousley as Mrs Adams, Crystal Condie as Queenie, Simona Bitmate as Mary and Susan Twist as Matron.

Be My Baby is at Leeds Playhouse from Saturday 11th May – Saturday 1st June. Book online at leedsplayhouse.org.uk or call the Box Office on 0113 213 7700.

 

Samuel Payne
Samuel Paynehttp://samuelpayne.weebly.com
Reviewer of Theatre in the North, including releases of classic film and television.

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