Everything becomes topsy-turvy when you're pregnant—not just your hormones—even more so when you’ve agreed to be a surrogate for your sister.
A hugely accomplished writing debut by actor Annie Davison, Bairns hits the nails on the head time after time in her heroine Lottie’s running commentary on being plunged into the baffling world of pregnancy, addressed to her “belly buddy”.
Lottie’s experiences are relatable and made consistently laugh-out-loud funny by Davison’s acute observations of human nature in operation, from the housemate who thinks Lottie should have extra cleaning duties on account of the vomiting she’ll be doing, to the antenatal classes where whale-sized mums-to-be have a pissing contest over who is the most constipated.
Although the comedy unapologetically veers towards the deliciously cutting, there is also gentler situational comedy, peril and warmth and tenderness when Lottie finds herself on the horns of a dilemma, forging a pleasingly flawed and truly likeable character.
In spite of being unconvinced that Davison the writer has experienced pregnancy or gestational surrogacy, sporting a credible-shaped bump, Davison the actor takes the stage as Lottie in a charming and committed performance that plays to her comic strengths. It is not often that the first performance of a new work is as assured as this. Davison is one to watch as performer and writer.
Bairns is part of SE Fest, a new festival based in south east London to promote and celebrate new writing co-hosted by two award-winning theatres, The Bridge House Theatre in Penge and The Jack Studio Theatre in Crofton Park. SE Fest 2024 runs until 14 September.