Abooo Theatre was formed nearly two years ago, by local actor and theatre-maker Clare Cameron. Cameron, mother of one, who sought to see more stories on our stages about the experience she was having through child-birth and parenting.
One of the scripts that found its way to Abooo, was ‘The Replacement Child’ by Vittoria Caffola.
Vittoria lives and works in Belfast, where she is presently a HATCH artist at The MAC and the manager of the Belfast Film Festival. Vittoria saw Abooo’s call-out for scripts about parenting, and took a chance by submitting her raw, uncompromising, and beautifully comic play: ‘The Replacement Child’, which immediately became Clare’s top pick for her
companies professional stage debut.
Bringing on-board Hope Mill Theatre (just named ‘Fringe Venue of the Year’ at The Stage Awards) and one of the North-West’s most established directors, Martin Gibbons (Monkeywood Theatre), Abooo is bringing a theatre event to Manchester that is not to be missed, for both parents and general audiences.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have Abooo produce this play, and delighted that it will be running in the Hope Mill Theatre. As a playwright, It’s always exciting to see your work on stage, but that fact that it is being staged in Manchester,with such a great team, feels like an added bonus.” says Vittoria
The cast of The Replacement Child includes local soap royalty Rupert Hill and Julia Haworth; two of Coronation Streets’ most beloved characters, Jamie Baldwin and Claire Peacock.
As part of the performance week, Abooo will stage a baby-friendly matinee on Thursday the 21st of February at 11am, where lights and sound will be reflective of having babies present, and audience-goers will be able to come and go freely throughout the performance.
There will also be space for prams and changing. Abooo seeks to truly change the theatre landscape of Manchester, making its view of parenting, more open and embracing.
Throughout the rehearsal process, casting process & performance season of
The Replacement Child, babies are welcome at all times.
