It’s 1979, Kitty is pregnant. She is on her own, not by choice. She arrives in a mother and baby home. Nothing could have prepared her for this. The young women hold each other up with sharp, dark humour against the backdrop of the war in the North of Ireland. Where do the babies go? No one talks about it, no one dares.
The play is based on Caitriona Cunningham’s lived experience of being in Marianvale Mother and Baby home in Newry. It was developed over a year with Dramaturg Emily DeDakis and a cast of stellar local actors. It is a searing portrayal of a dark time in Irish history with a 70s/80s soundtrack.
There has been no inquiry yet in the North of Ireland. This play is a call to all impacted to come forward and raise their voices so that they may never again be silenced and shamed for being human. The magnificent cast lead by Aoibh Johnson (just returned from Edinburgh Fringe with the acclaimed The Daughters of Róisín) will take you on a journey that is mesmerising and intensely moving. Don’t miss it.
A Sole Purpose production
Written by Caitriona Cunningham
Directed by Patricia Byrne
Supported by Arts Council NI Commissioning Programme, Heritage Fund, Foyle Foundation.
