Baby, He Loves You artwork by Jemma Klein
A Middle Child production
Baby, He Loves You
Written by Maureen Lennon
Music by Ysabelle Wombwell
Directed by Paul Smith
How well do we know those who love us the most?
Bride-to-be Jodie is enjoying a rollercoaster of engagement parties and hen dos as her big day approaches. But when skeletons begin to tumble out of the closet, she must finally question what it means to love your family, no matter what.
Baby, He Loves You is a new play by Hull writer, Maureen Lennon, that brings together original music, aerial acrobatics and storytelling under the intense gaze of a wedding party on Stage@TheDock.
Get your glad rags on and join your fellow guests in a decked-out marquee by the Humber for a wedding unlike any other.
Baby, He Loves You features original music by Ysabelle Wombwell and is directed by Paul Smith, with choreography by Danielle Clements, set design by Bethany Wells, costume design by Sian Thomas, lighting design by Jessie Addinall and sound design by Tom Smith.
It is Maureen Lennon’s first full-length commission with Middle Child since Us Against Whatever in 2019, which ran at Hull Truck Theatre and the Liverpool Everyman.
Guidance
Age recommendation: 16+
Running time: Approx. 2hrs 15m, including an interval. This has been revised since rehearsals started.
Content warnings: strong language, misogyny, sex, discussion of sexual assault and sexual harassment. See our content notes page for a more detailed plot summary.
Press
“Entertaining, funny, emotional and cathartic. I’m so proud that this work is being made and performed in Hull.”
“The staging was a wonderfully original idea. The second act is a triumph, the climax unforgettable.”
“An emotional tightrope… I was simultaneously hugging myself and squirming in my seat throughout.”
Photos
Photos by Tom Arran
Cast
Creative and Production Team
Writer
Composer and Musical Director
Director
RTYDS Intensive Residency Director
(Funded by the RTYDS Annie Castledine Award)
Rachael Abbey
Dramaturg
Set Designer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Siân Thomas
Sound Designer
Lighting Designer
Company Stage Manager
Shona Wright
Stage Manager
Sarah Goodyear
Deputy Stage Manager
Sound Engineer
Jack Pellatt
Front of House Manager
Rachel Clark
Venue Details
Address
Humber St, Hull, HU1 1UU
What3Words
bulb.secure.groom
Car Parking
Available in the Fruit Market multi-storey car park, a one-minute walk away, on Blackfriargate.
Bus
The nearest bus stop is the Old Harbour stop, next to Stage@TheDock. This stop is served by the number 20 bus.
Toilets
Toilets, including accessible toilets, will be available at all times at Nibble, next to the venue.
Bar
A bar is available inside the marquee, run by Taphouse, of Humber Street.
Audience Resources
Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP) – 01482 318759
Hull Women’s Aid – 01482 446099
Preston Road Women’s Centre – 01482 790310
The Survivors Trust – 0808 801 0818
Rape Crisis – 0808 500 2222
Samaritans -116 123
Shout (24/7 text service for mental health support) – Text 85258
DAP Domestic Abuse Men’s Practitioner – 01482 613978
Mental Health Advice and Support – 0800 138 0990
Strength to Change (working with perpetrators of domestic abuse) – 01482 613403
See Also
Q&A with Maureen Lennon
We sat down with Hull playwright, Maureen Lennon, to find out more about her inspiration and writing process behind Baby, He Loves You.
Rehearsal diary
Assistant director Rachael Abbey shares her reflections from the first two weeks inside the rehearsal room.
Theatre funding and ticket prices
Audience development manager Jamie Potter writes about the challenge of making tickets affordable, in the current climate of theatre funding.
Baby, He Loves You is supported by:
