BACK STREET MAMMY
Back Street Mammy was produced by Temba Theatre Company and premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith in London in 1989 directed by former Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company Paulette Randall with the following cast: Cecilia Noble (Maria/Jackie/Jan), Pamela Nomvete (Dynette), Stephen Persaud (Eddie/Skolar) and Michael Stewart (Jacko). Back Street Mammy was produced again in 1991 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse directed by Burt Caesar.
Trish Cooke was inspired to write her first play Back Street Mammy after reading a controversial article which suggested that the increasing statistic of young, single black mothers in Birmingham was caused by black women in Birmingham purposefully getting pregnant. Back Street Mammy is a powerful response which gives a voice to young mothers highlighting the societal, familial and personal pressures on young females growing up in a world of inequality. Although the play focuses on the young mother-to-be, we also see the effects on the rest of the family who all in turn feel a sense of responsibility. The play centres on the life of an intelligent studious teenager, Dynette, who aspires to be a language interpreter. But when she is faced with peer pressure at school together with new sexual desires, she readily falls for the first boy who shows her any attention. Eddie Thomas sweeps her off her feet and she falls pregnant after her first sexual encounter. Eddie returns to his ex-girlfriend Sonia while a pregnant Dynette has to confront her family and make the biggest decision of her life – whether to have an abortion or become a single mother.
Actress, writer and children TV presenter Trish Cooke was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England to Dominican parents. Aside from writing for theatre, Trish Cooke has also written for television and radio, with credits including EastEnders, The Real McCoy, Brothers and Sisters.
She attended Leeds Polytechnic graduating with a BA degree in Performing Arts, before moving to London in 1984 with the hope of pursuing an acting career. Cooke initially worked as a stage manager at the Black Theatre co-operative theatre company for six months. After receiving her Equity card, she worked as an actor in London and regionally. In 1988 Cooke received a Thames Television Writers Bursary and began a writing residency at The Liverpool Playhouse, which culminated in writing several stage plays and scripts for television including Children’s BBC Playdays, EastEnders, Real McCoy and Brothers and Sisters, showcasing her ability to write for adult and young audiences alike. She is probably most renowned for the interracial adaptations of children’s fairy tales namely Pinocchio (2005), the Olivier Award-nominated Cinderella (2007), Aladdin (2009) and Little Red Riding Hood (2010), which have been produced at The Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Other published plays by Trish Cooke include Running Dreams.
Summary (Extract)
MARIA, a fifty-year-old Catholic, wife and mother of three daughters, lives with husband Skolar and youngest daughter Dynette. Maria and her two eldest daughters were all teenage mothers, forced to drop out of school early and compromise on their careers. Maria hopes that her words will be enough to deter her youngest, Dynette, from making the same mistakes.
Chil’ move from me way, you don’t see how de place in a mess. And is talk you want me to talk! Why you cannot gi’ me some help in de house? Every day de same. Every day I sit down at dem people sewing machine making teddy bear. Ten pence they does gi’ me for one, yes, two shillin’ and they does sell the same teddy bear wid my number on it for five pound. You see how life is? And if I did study maybe it would be me wid de five pound not de small change. You know how many teddy bear I have to make to come home wid a decent wage? Plenty. And I tired work now Dyn, you don’t think is time one of me chil’ come home wid some good good news. I sick of hearing de same ‘Mom I expectin’.’ I sick of being grandmother. I sick and tired Dynette. Come home and tell me dat you pass your exam and ‘Mom I want to be a doctor or a lawyer or something special.’ I did think dat all a my babies is something special but nearly all a dem do like me. So you want to talk. Don’t talk, listen. Dats de bes’ advice I can gi’ you. And don’t jus’ listen, listen good. (Pause.) Back home I did always say I would make a seamstress but is me own dress shop I did want, yes girl, you ol’ modder had big dream. I did think of going America to study…open a fancy clothes shop… Maria Fashion. Those were de days…I use to make all me own clothes you know, now I so tired when I finish work all I have time to do is cook and clean. What I am saying is I could a had all of those things if I had kept myself to myself…if I had take care. (She looks at Dynette hard.) But I meet a man and I start to make children for him. Don’t follow me Dynette. Is not a life for you. You is me, las’ chil’, do me proud ne?