Pearl Mackie will lead Baby, a solo play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti exploring motherhood within the criminal justice system. The production is a co-production between Clean Break and Brixton House, running in October.

Pearl Mackie has been cast as the lead in Baby, a new play focusing on the resilience and struggles of mothers caught in the criminal justice system. The solo performance will be staged at Brixton House from 8 to 31 October, with a press night on 14 October.

Baby is co-produced by Clean Break, a theatre company supporting women affected by the criminal justice system, and Brixton House. The production aims to shift perspectives on motherhood under the constraints of incarceration, highlighting survival and strength in impossible conditions.

The play is written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and directed by Milli Bhatia. The creative team includes Khadija Raza on set and costume design, Bethany Gupwell as lighting designer, and Elena Peña as sound designer. Nadine Rennie is the casting director.

Mackie expressed admiration for Clean Break and described the role of Baby as “a powerful and pertinent story” arriving at “a vital time” to spotlight injustices faced by mothers in prison. She also noted the significance of returning to Brixton for this work.

Anna Herrmann, Clean Break’s artistic director and joint CEO, said she was “thrilled” with Mackie’s casting and praised the partnership with Brixton House. Herrmann referenced Clean Break’s earlier work, Scenes from Lost Mothers, noting Baby further exposes challenges mothers face during and after imprisonment.

The production continues Clean Break’s mission to use theatre as a tool for social change within and beyond the prison system, deepening public understanding of maternal incarceration through live performance.