Baby-drama debut for director Sophie (From This Is Wiltshire)

Baby-drama debut for director Sophie

3:29pm Thursday 27th April 2006

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BUDDING young actor Sophie Townsend makes her directorial debut tonight, with her production of Amanda Whittington's poignant drama Be My Baby, performed by Alderbury Players.

The vivacious and enthusiastic 17-year-old, who lives in Alderbury and currently attends sixth-form college at Totton, is full of passion and commitment for the theatre.

Unsurprisingly, she has her sights set firmly on a place at drama school.

"My very first part was aged six, in Puss in Boots, at Alderbury School," she said.

"Then I joined Alderbury Players, making my debut in Alice in Wonderland when I was eight."

Sophie has appeared in many of Alderbury Players' productions and Be My Baby is something of a departure for the amateur dramatic group.

"The company hasn't performed serious drama for a long time but, after taking the lead role of Mary Adams in Be My Baby in a school production for my GCSE studies last year, I thought it would be great to do the play with Alderbury Players," said Sophie.

Sophie went to see the Salisbury Playhouse production of Be My Baby two years ago, with St Edmund's School, and ended up seeing it twice she enjoyed it so much.

When asked what drew her to a play set in Britain in 1964, when being unmarried and pregnant was a big taboo, she replied: "I was fascinated how society has changed and my aim in directing this play is that people are reminded exactly how much it has moved on.

"The play is about girls of my age who are sent to a mother-and-baby home and are forced to give up their babies for adoption.

"It is a serious drama with a hard-hitting message, though there are some lighter moments, particularly when the girls sing 1960s' songs to Mary's record player."

Casting was a nightmare for Sophie, as she needed to find teenagers or younger women to take the main parts.

"I was worried that the players would not be able to grasp the true meaning of the play, but I shouldn't have," she said.

"All the girls have been absolutely fantastic, taking their roles very seriously.

"Even having to have baby-shaped pillows strapped to them to make them look pregnant was taken in their stride."

John Jenner, of Alderbury Players, said they were very lucky to have someone as keen as Sophie to direct the production. "She convinced everyone she could do this play, and she has succeeded," he said.

Be My Baby is at Alderbury village hall from tonight until Saturday, at 7.30pm.

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