Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie will play every character in the world premiere of a new play about the life of a mother in prison.
Play details
Baby, written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and directed by Milli Bhatia, will be staged by Clean Break – a theatre company for women who have experienced the criminal justice system or who are at risk. It will run at Brixton House, London, from October 8-31.
Mackie's statement
Mackie said: “I have admired Clean Break and the amazing work they do for a long time, so being cast as Baby means a great deal to me. I am incredibly excited to get stuck into this powerful and pertinent story, which comes at such a vital time when the injustice that mothers face in our prison system is finally getting the attention it deserves. Coming home to Brixton to play this fiercely unique character feels right and makes the experience all the more special.”
Artistic director's comment
Anna Herrmann, Clean Break artistic director and joint CEO, said: “Brixton House is the perfect partner for this urgent new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, building on Scenes From Lost Mothers, a groundbreaking play used as a creative tool in the campaign to end the imprisonment of pregnant women. Baby draws the curtain back further on the life of a mother in prison, exposing the experiences that led to her entanglement with the criminal justice system and the impossible challenges she faces on release.”
Mackie's career
Mackie is best known for her role as Bill Potts in Doctor Who opposite Peter Capaldi in 2016. Her character was the first openly gay main companion in the series. She has also appeared in the political thriller series The Diplomat with Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell. Her most recent stage role was as Sylvia in Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre from 2024 to 2025.
