Director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour on making brand new comedy theatre about black motherhood Brenda’s Got A Baby by Jesscia Hagan playing the New Diorama Theatre.
Tell us a bit about Brenda’s Got A Baby
Brenda’s Got a Baby is a comedy about the pressures women face to get married and have a baby, how our worth can seem to be tied to achieving those things and how those pressures from family and society can affect people mentally.
Why did you want to work on this show?
The themes of the play are ones I can relate to as a Black British Ghanaian woman. I see myself reflected in this play and I was able to bring my cultural knowledge and lived experience to bringing it to life. Not many of the plays I’ve directed have been so close to home.
How are rehearsals going?
We have finished rehearsals now and we’re just about to officially open the show. It’s been a lot of joy and fun working with the actors, exploring the themes and trying out funny ideas.
It’s always a challenge working on new plays because so much of it is working out what it is and how it can exist physically in the best way, as it’s never existed before. The important themes it has and the light touch way it deals with them (instead of leaning into the trauma like several plays featuring Black people) made it feel especially important to bring the words to life the best we could. The world needs to hear what Jessica Hagan has got to say through this play.
What can audiences expect from the production?
Audiences can expect fun, laughter, some moving moments, great music and a great night out.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be working on my writing as well as continuing with directing projects. My debut play as a writer will happen next year, so stay tuned to my social media and website for updates on that!
Brenda’s Got A Baby is at New Diorama Theatre until 2 Dec 2023, more info and tickets here: newdiorama.com/whats-on/brendas-got-a-baby
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