Theatre / IVF
In rehearsal for ‘A Child of Science’ at Bristol Old Vic
For its early summer production, Bristol Old Vic will be presenting Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright Gareth Farr’s IVF drama, A Child of Science, directed by the renowned West End director, Matthew Dunster.
Charting the history of this hugely impactful fertility intervention – with an estimated 12 million babies born to date as a result of assisted reproductive technologies (The Lancet, 2023) – the play centres on the brave medical pioneers and volunteers that made the hypothesis a reality.
The ensemble cast includes Meg Bellamy as the nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy, and Tom Felton as the physiologist Robert Edwards. They are joined by Jamie Glover as the gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe, who shared some insights from the rehearsal room.
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Artwork: Feast Creative
How much did you know about the history of IVF before preparing for this production?
“I knew astonishingly little really. Because in my lifetime it’s always been an option, I never thought to question it. And the fact I’ve been lucky in the way we conceived our children – not realising the full miracle of it. It’s been fascinating to get to know a little more about the scientific breakthrough, the sequence of events that led to it, and the extraordinary people.”
Jamie Glover (as Patrick Steptoe), in rehearsal for A Child of Science at Bristol Old Vic
What were your first impressions of the play, and of the emotional impact of Gareth Farr’s writing?
“I loved the play immediately. I find it profoundly moving because it’s so rigorously unsentimental and the characters that have to carry the emotional weight of the play – Margaret and Trevor – are written so unsentimentally. I find that incredibly moving.
“But also, Gareth’s writing is just extremely light. He buries all the plot in character; at no point are you thinking ‘oh right, here’s the bit where we’re all given the lecture about IVF’ he just gathers all that in these rich characters – you don’t notice it happening – and you just suddenly realise you have this wealth of information.”
Amy Loughton (Nurse Annabel / Mrs Sharpe / Molly Rose)
Can you introduce your character and how you are choosing to portray him?
“I’m playing Patrick Steptoe who was the doctor as opposed to the scientist in the process. He was a gynaecologist who came together with Bob Edwards and Jean Purdy to make it all happen. He’s a man that is patient-led which is interesting about him. Bob was probably more science-led. That’s probably Patrick’s Achilles heel – it clouds his scientific judgment because he is so empathetic.”
Everal A Walsh (Dr Willis / Dr Gaskell / Mr Turner)
In what way is your process shaped by the fact you are playing actual historical people?
“There’s a great sense of responsibility in that. They were people who meant an awful lot to millions so we want to get that legacy right. That’s a real tribute to Gareth that although he may have taken some theatrical liberties with historic facts so that it works on stage, he’s absolutely true to the people who made this extraordinary thing happen.”
Meg Bellamy (Jean Purdy)
What are your expectations for working with Matthew Dunster and the creative team?
“I’ve admired Matthew Dunster’s work for many years. Over 20 years ago I saw a play of his at Manchester Exchange in their Studio and it blew me away. I’ve been following his work ever since. He’s thorough, thoughtful and sensitive which is proved in the rehearsal room – you can tell he was an actor – he’s really aware of making sure his vision is taken on board by the cast and also make sure the actors are comfortable with that. He runs a really democratic rehearsal room. The only member of the creative team I knew before was the designer Anna Fleischle whose set for The Hangman (which Matthew also directed) was one of the greatest sets I’ve ever seen.”
Tom Felton (Robert Edwards)
How do you think audiences will respond to this play?
“I’ve been around long enough to know you can never second guess how an audience will respond. But I think it’s going to really resonate with audiences. Not just people who’ve had their own fertility journeys but with people like me who have been very blessed and not had to face that challenge. It’s just so rigorously unsentimental and still profound and moving. I’m really looking forward to finding out!”
A Child of Science is at Bristol Old Vic from June 5-July 6 at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are available from www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
All photos: Helen Murray (main photo shows Adelle Leonce, who plays Margaret)
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