Be My Baby, Salisbury Playhouse
SET in a Church of England-run unmarried-mother and baby home in the north of England in 1964, this play reflects on the ways in which 200,000 adoptions a year (compared to 5,000 today) were enforced because of social attitudes of shame and secrecy.
The set and lighting are effectively bleak and institutional, the ticking clock emphasising the grim monotony of waiting for a lonely childbirth and the wrenching trauma of giving away the baby - "I'm scared I'm going to love it" being the best line in the play.
All the characters are female, even the new-born unrealistic baby.
All the pop songs which the girls listen and sing along to are by women, yet in 1964 - the height of Beatlemania - they would surely have been enjoying Elvis, The Hollies and The Beatles. Runs until June 26.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article