A Child of Science (NHB Modern Plays)

By Gareth Farr

'One day this will work. One day we will gift two honest, decent, trusting volunteers a baby. I know this more than anything else in the world. I know it in my soul. We will do that.'
In 1978, three pioneering doctors changed the world of fertility as we know it. Supported by an army of immensely brave women from all over the UK, Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy achieved the impossible: they created human life in vitro.
Faced with fierce criticism and hostility, and hounded by the media for 'playing God', trials had to be kept largely under wraps. But the trio's determination to give hope to the thousands of families struggling to conceive eventually led to the first 'test-tube baby' and the creation of IVF, a procedure which has since supported the birth of over twelve million babies worldwide.
Gareth Farr's play A Child of Science is a fictionalised account of this true story of ambition and courage, based on extensive research and interviews with embryologists and fertility doctors, as well as those affected by and enabled by IVF. It was first performed at Bristol Old Vic in 2024, directed by Matthew Dunster.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Jun 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9781788507677

Gareth Farr

Gareth Farr is an actor and writer. His plays include: A Child of Science (Bristol Old Vic, 2024); Biscuits for Breakfast (Hampstead Downstairs, 2023); The Quiet House (Birmingham Rep & Park Theatre, London, 2016); and Britannia Waves the Rules (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, 2014 and tour; winner of a Judges' Award at the 2011 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting; Sydney Fringe Festival). As an actor he has worked with the RSC, Young Vic, West End, Royal Court, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Sheffield Theatres, and has had numerous television roles on programmes including Misfits, Skins and Vera.

Book preview

Gareth Farr

A CHILD

OF SCIENCE

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Original Production Details

Thank You

Characters

Note

Notes on the Text

Disclaimer

A Child of Science

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

This play is dedicated to the 282 brave women who volunteered.

On behalf of twelve million IVF parents, thank you.

It is also for Matthew and Mee-Ling

who helped us more than they will ever know.

Give me children or I shall die

Genesis 30:1

A Child of Science was first performed at Bristol Old Vic on 5 June 2024, with the following cast:

Thank you

Thank you to these very special people who helped with the development of this play –

Matthew Warchus, Joel Fram, Paul Hilton, Matthew Needham, Lisa Diveney, Cora Kirk, Sade Malone, Sarah Ridgeway, James Corrigan, Bobby Hirston, Martin Marquez, Jonathan McGuinness, Rhiannon Handy, Jamie Parker, Carla Henry, Fertility Fest, John Brant and the team at Smith and Brant Theatricals. And to Alix Harris and the whole cast and creative team for their insight, enquiry, and tenderness during rehearsals.

And to these very special people who helped with the research and offered support – Dr Kay Elder, Dr Martin Johnson whose research and publications were invaluable during the writing of this play. Dr Kamal Ahuja, Anya Sizer, Kate Brian, Grace MacDonald, Jessica Hepburn, Louise Brown and Martin Powell and to my agent Camilla Young.

And to those who fought and believed and made it happen – Gabby Vautier and Charlie Bunker at Impossible Producing for never giving up. Nancy Medina, Jessica Campbell, Ben Atterbury and everyone at Bristol Old Vic for showing so much faith in this play. Matthew Dunster for absolutely everything.

G.F.

Characters

in order of appearance

DEBORAH ATKINSON

PATRICK STEPTOE

NURSE 1

NURSE 2

BOB EDWARDS

RUTH FOWLER

DR SANDERSON

DR WILLIS

DR GREGORY

MARGARET SHARPE

TREVOR ISHERWOOD

MRS SHARPE

ANNE

SHEENA STEPTOE

JEAN PURDY

MR TURNER

MOLLY ROSE

MIKE ASHWOOD-SMITH

ALAN CARTER

ELIZABETH

NEWSPAPER SELLER

CAROL

NURSE ANNABEL

JENNIFER

ARCHBISHOP

MR WEST

MR McGUIRE

MR KERR

DR GASKELL

LESLEY BROWN

JOHN BROWN

LILLIAN LINCOLN HOWELL

FRANK

POPE JOHN PAUL I

NEWS REPORTER

NURSE 3

Note

All scenes overlap and flow into each other seamlessly.

Sometimes two scenes are running together at once.

Notes on the Text

A dash ( – ) at the end of a line indicates an interruption or unfinished thought.

A dash ( – ) after a character prefix indicates a character’s intention to or inability to speak.

Disclaimer

This play is a fictional reimagining of the events that led to the creation of IVF. Some scenes, events and characters are based on research and testimony, others are completely imagined by the writer.

This ebook was created before the end of rehearsals and so may differ slightly from the play as performed.

Somewhere in the space a woman screams. It is excruciating.

Scene One – The Butcher

St George’s Hospital London (1958).

A chaotic hospital scene. DEBORAH ATKINSON has blood all over her gown, legs and face. She is in extraordinary pain. She convulses and contorts and screams. It is grotesque and violent. Two nurses work hard to provide comfort. PATRICK STEPTOE is also working hard to comfort her but without success. DEBORAH enters a new wave of pain. NURSE 1 tries to restrain her.

PATRICK. Do not hold her down. Do not restrain her. Hello. My name is Patrick. Can you hear me?

DEBORAH screams.

I am here to help you. If you can hear me can you… can you tell me your – (To NURSE 1.) Do we know her name?

The NURSES don’t respond.

Her name. What is this patient’s first name?

NURSE 1. I’m sorry, Doctor Steptoe, I don’t know.

DEBORAH screams and contorts.

PATRICK. Can we find out her first name please?

NURSE 2. Shouldn’t we sedate her?

PATRICK. If one of you could please determine her name and one of you please prepare the sedative that would be excellent.

DEBORAH screams.

Now, please.

NURSE 1 and NURSE 2 jump into action.

NURSE 1. Of course.

PATRICK. Thank you.

NURSE 1 exits. DEBORAH continues to contort and writhe in pain.

PATRICK (to DEBORAH). I am a doctor. We are going to help you. I know that you are in pain. I know that you are suffering terrible discomfort, but I am going to help you. Can you hear me? Can you see me? I am going to inject you now and after the injection you are going to feel much better. You are going to be much more comfortable very soon.

NURSE 2 hands PATRICK a needle. DEBORAH sees the needle and reacts.

NURSE 2. Shall I hold her down, now?

PATRICK. No.

Finally, PATRICK manages to sedate her. Over time her breathing settles, she gradually becomes comfortable and calm.

There you go. That’s better. (To NURSE 2.) Swab, please.

NURSE 2 hands him a swab. PATRICK holds it to DEBORAH’s mouth to stop the flow of blood. He cradles her head as he does so. It is an image of care and tenderness.

NURSE 1 re-enters.

NURSE 1. Deborah. Her name is Deborah Atkinson.

PATRICK. Thank you, nurse. Anything else?

NURSE 1. No. I didn’t… do you want her middle name as well?