Be My Baby (Greater Manchester Fringe Festival)

In the ignorant societal days of 1964, where curtains twitched and damaged reputations could bring entire families into disrepute, groups of girls were herded into Mother and Baby homes in the middle of nowhere, under the watchful eyes of their mothers.

The shame of their pregnancy in an unforgiving era cast a dark shadow of despair over an inability to withhold traditional values. Adoption was the only option.

Amanda Whittington’s play delves deep into the depths of sexual inequality in an effort to expose the trauma behind a generation of forgotten mothers. All female company Asphalt Roses chose to stage this version of Be My Baby as their debut feature because "It is rare to find a strong well-known play that features an all-female cast".

Having struggled to find quality female roles, the company was established by actor/producers Hannah Blakely and Leni Murphy — who also star in the performance — to incorporate the acting talents of modern day, working women.

The result is an impressive showcase of expressive talent by a highly motivated ensemble cast. Defiant grammar school graduate Mary, the enlightened yet tenderly vulnerable Queenie, poignantly disturbed Norma (Bethan Caddick) and playfully uneducated Dolores (Victoria Tunnah) are full of hopes and dreams for their futures.

Yet away from the impoverished realisation of deplorable struggle, their choices have been removed without their consent. They mourn their babies and their chance to be mothers as they are placed in the arms of more qualified, married couples unable to bear children of their own. "Its best forgot. All of it".

Director Lucia Cox manages to expose this piece of social history tactfully and tastefully. The use of music throughout serves as an expression of the character’s escapism, and an insight into their former lives before the home. But at times the delivery lacks conviction and the subtext is not executed effectively.

Not only are the girls stigmatised for their actions, the harrowing circumstances that lead to their situation — unreported rape, encounters with married men and a botched back street termination —are lacking any real grit and exploration. Institutionalised and expected to work, days in the laundry are more akin to a Friday night sleep over than a repressive existence.

Be My Baby is a hauntingly austere experience that successfully extracts the necessity for compassion without preaching about the downfalls of an unyielding society.

Be My Baby has now finished its run but the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival continues until 31 July.