BABY is a gritty, heart-warming and thought-provoking play that makes us witnesses to a young woman’s life, from her difficult childhood to crime, prison and motherhood. It’s a hard-hitting story that makes you think about how someone’s upbringing can affect the choices they make and how difficult it can be to turn your life around.
CAST
Pearl Mackie gave a powerful performance, keeping the audience engaged throughout the one-woman show. Her physicality was impressive, and the way she switched between characters made them believable. Her portrayal of BABY’s mother particularly stood out to me. I disliked her actions but could also see her struggles, making her a complicated character rather than simply a bad person.
Production
The staging was simple, but the focus was firmly on BABY’s body language and use of props to tell the story. The UK garage music also gave me a nostalgic feeling of old-school London. The references to primary and secondary school made parts of BABY’s story feel familiar and relatable.
Review
Throughout the show, BABY speaks directly to the audience, repeatedly asking if she’s a good person and reminding us to tell her story. I felt like I was part of it. I wanted her to win, but I was also aware that she was trying to persuade us to take her side. It made me question my own judgement.
Although I thought the performance was captivating, at times the story moved quite quickly, and I felt I may have missed some information. Her humour and comic timing helped keep the energy up, especially when she interacted with the audience.
What stayed with me most was how the play made me question the criminal justice system. BABY makes mistakes, but she also tries to rebuild her life. It left me wondering whether people really get the help they need after prison or whether the system makes it harder for them to move forward.
The ending shocked me and left me worried about BABY’s future. I wanted things to work out for her, but we’re left wondering what happens next. I guess you’ll have to watch it to find out.
Overall, I’d recommend BABY. It made me laugh, feel emotional and left me questioning not only BABY’s choices but also the system she’s trying to find her way through.
Clarrie mae is an actress and writer with a passion for storytelling across film and theatre. She wrote the theatre production The Colour of Home, starring Callum Turner, and has also collaborated with acclaimed writer Alex Wheatle. Her experience in the film industry includes working on productions such as Wicked, Steal for Amazon Prime Video, and the BBC’s Small Axe. With a keen interest in the creative arts, Clarrie Mae brings her passion for performance, storytelling and the screen to her work.
