Reminder of dark ages in 1960s

Jun 17 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

Barbara Hodgson hears about a play born from society’s shame

But it’s 1964, and here the unfortunate girls are still wearing the “uniform” and filling their days at the home being put to work in the laundry. While the 60s did mark a sexual revolution and new personal freedoms, “they were in places like Carnaby Street, not Darlington,” says Simon.

And the characters, despite their pregnancy, are naive about the facts of life. In the midst of the emotional rollercoaster, it’s this ignorance that provides many of the laughs, reckons Simon. “It comes out that they don’t know how to have babies,” he says.

“One doesn’t know how the baby comes out, so that’s quite funny.”

While the girls face an inevitable outcome which will affect their lives forever, they find strength through forging friendships, and their dreams of love and marriage are played out against the backdrop of 60s girl groups such as The Dixie Cups, The Ronettes and The Shangri Las singing about romantic fantasies.

Simon says: “The play can be done really seriously, but it can be uplifting – the girls will get on with their lives.”

This is Simon’s first experience of directing an all-female cast (the stage manager, assistant stage manager, set designer and costume designer are women too). And it’s poles apart from his experience of directing the six-strong, all-male line-up of the theatre’s recent production of Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather.

“I couldn’t believe how different they are,” he admits.

“The ladies work in a very different way. In rehearsals they’d all be ready and waiting while in Alf Ramsey one would be late or I’d be told, ‘One lad is out for a fag’.

“There’s a different energy; a different feel about it.”

He hastily adds: “There was not one better or worse!”

Be My Baby runs at Gala Theatre, Durham, from tomorrow until June 27. Visit www.galadurham.co.uk or call (0191) 332-4041.