Theatre that claims to tell a story of something that changed the world can often be overstated, but it is completely true for A Child of Science, the new play by Gareth Farr that is getting its world premiere at Bristol Old Vic.
The play is about the 20-year journey to successfully create in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the pioneering medical breakthrough that has led to the birth of over 12 million babies.
The idea for the show came about seven years ago when director Matthew Dunster and Gareth Farr were sat in a kitchen discussing their own experiences with IVF.
What has followed is a breathtaking and incredible production that relates how Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy overcame massive challenges to achieve their dream of allowing women who can’t have children to fulfil their ambitions for starting a family.
A Child of Science has an extra interest in Bristol given that Lesley Brown, the first woman to give birth using IVF in 1978, was from the city, and Louise Brown, the world’s first test tube baby, was sat next to us as we watched the show on press night. Hearing Louise say “there’s mum” was quite the moment!
Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, with actor Tom Felton
A Child of Science review
At the centre of the drama is the relationship between Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy, the team who created IVF. It is wonderfully portrayed by Waterloo Road actor Jamie Glover, Harry Potter star Tom Felton and The Crown’s Meg Belamy.
Patrick is the doctor whose creation of the laparoscopy technique, in the face of opposition from medical authorities, was essential to the success of IVF. His deep desire to always care about the women affected sometimes clashes with the obsession of scientist Robert Edwards to make a breakthrough meaning he forgets about the feelings of his patients. Keeping them on track is Jean, who first joined Robert as a young assistant but becomes crucial to the project’s achievements.
A Child of Science is also a love letter to the hundreds of women who bravely volunteered for IVF’s clinical trials. One of them in the play is Margaret Isherwood from Huddersfield. Adelle Leonce is outstanding as the woman who goes through the treatment multiple times with incredible persistence and determination driven by her intense desire for a baby. She is part of one of the most moving scenes in the show which left us in tears.
All other members of the cast shine too including Sonoya Mizuno, who plays multiple roles including an impressive portrayal of a speech in Italian by Pope John Paul I, one of several high profile religious figures who expressed opposition to IVF.
The story takes place between 1958 and 1978 in four locations. The passage of time is portrayed by clever use of moving staging, projections of dates onto backdrops and changing fashions. In the first act, there are times when the movement feels a little too hectic, but this is understandable given the progress the play is illustrating.
The music is stunning. It includes videos of songs sung by a choir of women, all of whom have some sort of relationship to IVF.
There are several incredibly emotional moments throughout the show, but there are amusing scenes too. The laughter comes particularly from the Northern humour of Margaret and her husband Trevor (Bobby Hirston).
A Child of Science is brilliant and a must watch story of medical experts and ordinary women and men who really did change the world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Child of Science is at Bristol Old Vic until 6 July 2024.
Images by Helen Murray | helenmurrayphotos.com | @helenmurraypix
