Hey, Baby

Presented by ZAVA Productions and Dr Giuli Cavaliere

Written by Emma Hemingford and Directed by Leigh Toney

Hey, Baby is a darkly funny, emotionally charged drama about two sisters, which asks how far we’re willing to go for the people we love - including the children who may never exist.

Anna wants a baby, but after years of trying, she’s starting to question whether her partner really wants the same. Meanwhile, Bex meets Dylan, and can’t decide whether she even wants a second date. As time ticks away, the two sisters’ lives become ever more intertwined by decisions that test their closeness, and the meaning of kinship, love and life itself.

Hey, Baby is based on research by Dr Giuli Cavaliere (UCL Philosophy), whose work examines how we understand infertility, the desire to have children and the collective provision of fertility treatment.

A bold new play from Emma Hemingford, whose most recent work Foreverland, a ‘Black Mirror-esque dystopian drama’ (★★★★ - The Stage), was shortlisted for The Papatango Prize and ran at Southwark Playhouse in 2024.

Cast, in order of appearance, include: Florence Hall (This Is Not A Murder Mystery, StudioCanal, The Princess Switch 2 & 3, Netflix, Queens Of Mystery, Acorn) as Anna, Emma Hemingford (Flinch, Pleasance Theatre, Old Red Lion Theatre and UK Tour, The Tempest, UK Tour, The Most Reluctant Convert, 2B Films) as Bex, Jack Wilkinson (Twelfth Night, The Globe, Marvellous, BBC, Paines Ploughs Roundabout season) as Chris and Michael Workéyè (The Moment, A24, Black Mirror, Netflix, This is Going to Hurt, BBC One) as Dylan.

The production team includes Peiyao Wang as Set and Costume Designer, Anna Short as Sound Designer, Stage Management by Yuval Brigg, with Polly Jerrold as Casting Director. Outreach and impact work is supported by Anita Semerani, while Ellie Haywood assists on Set and Costume Design. Social media is managed by Elena Rigoni and Soukaina El farissi, and artwork is credited to Aidan Mooney.

After show discussions

After each performance, there will be a post-show discussion around topics raised. There will be a short break before the discussions, with the talks expected to last around 40 minutes.

Monday 12 October
Living With Infertility: What Needs to Change?
Jennie Agg, award-winning journalist and author of 'Life, Almost'
Kat Brown, writer, editor and author of 'No One Talks about this Stuff'
Katie Rollings, founder and CEO of Fertility Action
Anita Guru, campaigner and coach

Tuesday 13 October
Fertility Treatment in the UK: Policy and Practice
Julia Chain, Chair of Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority
Stuart Lavery, NHS Director of Women's Health, and Director of Aria Fertility
Sarah Norcross, Director of the Progress Educational Trust
Ephia Yasmin, Consultant at University College London Hospital; Lead for the southern hub for ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation

Wednesday 14 October
From Research to Public Conversation
Emma Hemingford, actor and playwright, and writer of 'Hey, Baby'
Dr Zeynep Gürtin, Associate Professor of Women's Health and Reproductive Sociology, Programme Director, MSc in Women's Health, EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London
Professor Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science, Head of the Reproductive Science and Society Group, University College London
Dr Lucy van de Wiel, Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Research Director in Global Health and Social Medicine at King's College London.

Click here for more information on the subjects to be discussed

Produced by ZAVA Productions and Dr Giuli Cavaliere with the support of UCL’s Higher Education Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund and the UCL Arts and Humanities Impact Development Fund.

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