The Soon Life – Southwark Playhouse Borough

The Soon Life opens with precise staging, a brightly lit room with a sofa, table and garniture you would expect to see in any home. However, this was different a birth pool was inflated and positioned to one side of the room. Birthing books visible, a moses basket assembled, a sign of welcoming a new life, a baby. This was a planned home birth during a time of unknown risks from Covid 19, and hospital considered an unsafe place to give birth.

Phoebe Mcintosh is Bec a mixed-race young woman, pregnant and in the early stage of her labour. Whilst bouncing on her birthing ball in a zen state, calm, in control, listening to direction from her headphones, in walks the ‘ex’, Alex, (Joe Boylan). This disruption sets the tone of the play and the couple’s timeline in their relationship which brought them to this pivotal moment. The show is 90 minutes in duration structured to play out the time of labour. 

As Bec adjusts to her new environment, now in the presence of Alex, she continues through her contractions, surges as her labour transitions through every stage. In between Bec takes the opportunity to voice her feelings of the aftermath following the breakdown of their relationship. Her lack of respect and constant criticism of Alex is intertwined with loving and funny moments as they navigate the process of labour together. Invested into holding each other accountable for their situation, they are committed to preparing for the impending arrival of their baby. With no midwife present and her only guide is through meditation, knowledge from her pregnancy group, and references from ‘One Born Every Minute Bec feels ‘she’s got this’ Alex is unhappy with the situation and insists he will stay, until the midwife arrives.

There is no doubt, Mcintosh’s writing comes from the heart. Leaving no subject unturned with the realism and impact of labour, to the funny spoken references from “I hate you “to “I love you” and the craving of post birth desires for ‘tea and toast with lots of butter’.

There is strong language, scenes of nudity and references to death in childbirth. The set is perfectly staged to support the flow of the story.     

This is a multi-dimensional play with a serious focus of intention using art as the medium of expression with authentic realism. It explores the dynamics of personal relationships; a woman’s right to have a safe birth, and “making birth better, by supporting both parents and professionals impacted by birth trauma”. Two post show panel discussions with trained experts offered a safe space to learn about and explore experiences around birth and birth trauma               

Mcintosh & Meadows have created a brilliant play that offers an insider’s perspective to the realism of childbirth in modern society.   

Writer Phoebe Mcintosh

Director Sarah Meadows  

Set & Costume Design Sarah Beaton

Lighting Design Alex Musgrave    

Reviewer: Michelle Knight

Reviewed: 18^th October 2025  

North West End UK Rating: