Baby review: Pearl Mackie plays an abuse survivor in a solo play at Brixton House

A solo play running at Brixton House theatre in London follows a woman trying to make sense of the chain of events that led to her imprisonment and the forced removal of her baby daughter. Baby was written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, directed by Milli Bhatia and produced by Clean Break, a theatre company created for women who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. The lead role is played by Pearl Mackie, known for Doctor Who. The Guardian has published a review of the production.

What the play is about

The title character argues that many abuse survivors do not go on to commit serious crimes. The reviewer notes that this line echoes harsher commentary around the case of Christa Pike, a US death row inmate whose failed execution last month drew global headlines.

The play traces its protagonist's life from childhood onward. She is a bright schoolgirl who secretly cares for her mother, later becomes unknowingly involved with an older criminal, ends up in prison and then struggles to get her life back on track. The work argues that once someone has fallen into crime and drug dependency, escape is close to impossible, and survivors become case-file numbers moving between probation officers and case workers.

The reviewer's verdict

The reviewer describes Mackie's performance as meticulous. The character speaks directly to the audience, asking whether they believe her. However, the critic feels that Baby smiles almost constantly and that trauma seems to bounce off her too lightly, leaving a wish for a more visceral reaction. The details of her worst ordeals are also largely skipped, giving the impression of a diluted version of a darker story. The buttercup-yellow set was designed by Khadija Raza.