A raucous new comedy from the writer of Worst Wedding Ever comes to Salisbury Playhouse in Wiltshire running from Thursday 15 February to Saturday 9 March.
Chris Chibnall’s new play hilariously depicts what happens when one of life’s most magical events gets hijacked… by life itself. He is best known for writing Broadchurch, Worst Wedding Ever (2014 and 2017 Salisbury Playhouse) and Doctor Who (2018-2022).
Jen and Mark have done the NCT classes. They’ve written the birth plan, in precise detail. They’ve even got the birth pool ready in the living room of their new flat. Almost. Everything is set for the perfect, calm, idyllic home birth.
Except they’ve reckoned without intrusive family, nosy neighbours, uninvited guests and a new flat full of unwelcome surprises.
The Artiscape spoke to Sam Alexander who returns to Salisbury Playhouse to play Mark – he previously appeared in How the Other Half Loves. Other theatre work includes The Machinal (Ustinov Bath), The Ghost Train (Royal Exchange Theatre) and Lawrence After Arabia (Hamstead Theatre).
What attracted you to the script?
Alexander: I have never seen or read a script that explores the intense, terrifying and utterly extraordinary experience of childbirth so well. It’s a play with a huge heart – the characters and situation are real and very relatable – that frequently spirals into farce- like comedy. Not many writers can pull that off.
You play Mark, can you tell us about the character you play?
Alexander: He’s a risk averse dad-to-be whose wife has her heart set on a home birth. That leaves him in an agonising position: how can he honour her wishes and his own desire to control the controllables? As if that wasn’t enough, his own dad who abandoned him when he was two has just shown up and wants to make friends. Oh, and his new house is falling apart around his ears.
Can you identify in any way with the character you play?
Alexander: Yes. I found my wife’s pregnancy a surreal time. I knew my life was about to change forever, but it didn’t seem real somehow. I felt powerless to do anything meaningful to help so just flapped around and worried about everything and anything. It would have been some consolation to know I’d be drawing on the experience eight years later!
What are looking forward to in performing in this production?
Alexander: In word, the water. Jen and Mark have installed a birthing pool at home, and let’s just say its contents doesn’t stay in one place. If we get it right, it’s going to result in some big laughs and some wet costumes.
What do you think an audience will take away from this production?
Alexander: I think audiences will go home thinking just what an amazing effect childbirth has on people. It sends them momentarily crazy and tests relationships to the limits. There are few things in life so universally extraordinary. I doubt there’s such a thing as an uneventful birth – you certainly won’t be seeing one of those at the Salisbury Playhouse, that’s for sure!
One Last Push
A Wiltshire Creative Production
Thu 15 Feb – Sat 9 Mar
Main venue Salisbury Playhouse
Venue Main House
Tickets from £13
Ages 14+
