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2017

Bodies

Written by Vivienne Franzmann

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Vicky Featherstone

Dates Performed

Wednesday 5th July 2017
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

Clem’s house in the UK and a fertility clinic in Delhi, India

Clem, a 43-year-old woman, navigates the emotional and ethical complexities of surrogacy. The play unfolds over nine months, juxtaposing scenes in Clem’s house in the UK with moments in a fertility clinic in Delhi. Clem’s journey is intertwined with her husband Josh, her father David who is battling Motor Neurone Disease, and Lakshmi, the Indian surrogate carrying Clem and Josh’s child. The narrative is further enriched by the presence of Clem’s daughter, depicted at different ages (6, 10, and 16), who serves as a representation of Clem’s hopes, fears, and memories.

The play explores themes of identity, loss, and the ethical implications of surrogacy. It is a drama with elements of social realism and dark comedy, employing a non-linear narrative that shifts between different locations and times, reflecting the fragmented and often challenging nature of Clem’s experiences. The dialogue seamlessly integrates Hindi, adding an authentic layer to the portrayal of cultural intersections. The setting moves from the intimate domestic sphere of Clem’s home to the clinical environment of the fertility clinic, highlighting the contrast between personal and medical worlds.

Director(s)

Jude Christian

Photo credit

All photos credited to Bronwen Sharp

Cast & Creative

Cast

Lorna Brown

Cast

Philip Goldacre

Cast

Salma Hoque

Cast

Jonathan McGuinness

Cast

Justine Mitchell

Cast

Hannah Rae

Cast

Alexander Molony

Cast

Rohan Shinn

Designer

Gabriella Slade

Lighting and Projection

Joshua Pharo

Sound

Helen Skiera

Filmmaker

Meghna Gupta

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