Network Theatre Company presents

Whale Music

by Anthony Minghella, directed by Rebecca Mason

Whale Music has nothing to do with sea creatures or Tom Jones’ homeland, rather it tells the story of a somewhat naïve pregnant student and her return to the beige, out of season seaside town of her birth.

Written and set in 1981, Whale Music explores a time in recent history which is very different than today. While a single mother is completely acceptable in the twenty first century, as is being gay, back in the early 80’s both were almost stoning offences – especially in deeply conservative south Hampshire.

Caroline, pregnant by one of two men, struggles to keep her emotions in check and has fled to a room in the house of the bitter, bohemian Stella.

Their relationship develops strongly, as does that of Caroline with her former schoolmate Fran – now a devoted mother struggling to ignore a less than perfect marriage.

On the eve of Caroline’s 21st birthday they are joined by Kate – Fran and Caroline’s lesbian former English teacher and also landlady to Caroline at university in Leeds – and her energetic, would-be activist, teenaged lover D.

With the birth imminent, tension arises as each character tries to impose her will on Caroline’s decision regarding what to do about her soon-to-be-born child until Caroline prematurely goes to into labour…

Whale Music features Amy Bonar, Elizabeth Daly, Rebecca Matthews, Emma Byrne, Sophie Farrell, Sharon Trotter, Alessandra Coyne and Judy Acton.

An amateur production by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.

Resources:

• Poster (JPG)