Breeders

Ben Ockrent’s comedy revolves around a same-sex couple who decide they want a child very soon, given the ticking biological clock that demands it now, and the lengths they’ll go to in order to achieve a family. The involvement of a second couple in this journey proves hilarious as gags roll throughout this decent performance. The play stars Angela Griffin (Caroline) and Tamzin Outhwaite (Andrea) as the lesbian couple who are determined to have a child no matter the methods; Nicholas Burns (Jimmy) as the brother who is cajoled by the couple to extreme ends, and his girlfriend, Jemima Rooper (Sharon), who is a somewhat marginalised outsider and very wary of the propositions put forward to say the least.

The story starts during a family get together on St Lucia’s Day, along with fancy dress costumes and Swedish versions of 80s Christmas songs. Talk soon begins of starting a family via insemination by employing the help of the brother of one of the lesbian couple, Jimmy. Whilst Jimmy toys with the idea of parenthood without responsibilities, his girlfriend Sharon is less impressed with the idea. Jimmy and Sharon decide to test the resolve of Caroline and Andrea by having them take care of a pretend baby, made from a bag of flour, which they named ‘Mugabe’.

The play explores societal conceptions of what modern family life is, and questions not only our methods of procreation but when, why and how we have children. Extremely funny and worth seeing.

• St. James Theatre, London, 3 September – 4 October 2014
• Author: Ben Ockrent
• Director: Tamara Harvey
• Design: James Perkins (production), Joshua Carr (lighting), Tom Gibbons (sound)
• Technical: Jordan Whitwell (production manager), Jasmin Hay (stage manager)
• Cast includes: Angela Griffin, Tamzin Outhwaite, Jemima Rooper, Nicholas Burns
• Producer: Vicky Graham
• Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval)