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Writer of IVF play blasts 'privatisation of reproduction' Writer of IVF play blasts 'privatisation of reproduction'
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IVF treatment in the UK has become a money-making racket, according to a writer who found her own personal experience “brutalising” and has written a play inspired by it.IVF treatment in the UK has become a money-making racket, according to a writer who found her own personal experience “brutalising” and has written a play inspired by it.
Details have been announced of the premiere in June of a play at London’s Hampstead theatre. The 40th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first “test tube baby”, on 25 July will coincide with the play’s run.Details have been announced of the premiere in June of a play at London’s Hampstead theatre. The 40th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first “test tube baby”, on 25 July will coincide with the play’s run.
Its writer, Jemma Kennedy, said her experience of private IVF treatment was so bad she felt compelled to write a play.Its writer, Jemma Kennedy, said her experience of private IVF treatment was so bad she felt compelled to write a play.
Kennedy recalled going in for treatment in a state of “blind panic and emotional chaos”, which she said was common for most people.Kennedy recalled going in for treatment in a state of “blind panic and emotional chaos”, which she said was common for most people.
“It is a very charged time and I came out of the experience feeling brutalised. It was nothing physical, it was the attitude of the private sector … It felt like it was all about money,” she said. “It is the privatisation of reproduction, the final frontier of capitalism.”“It is a very charged time and I came out of the experience feeling brutalised. It was nothing physical, it was the attitude of the private sector … It felt like it was all about money,” she said. “It is the privatisation of reproduction, the final frontier of capitalism.”
Kennedy, who has previously written about her experience in the Guardian, spent £4,500 to have her eggs frozen, not really appreciating the slim chances of the process being successful.Kennedy, who has previously written about her experience in the Guardian, spent £4,500 to have her eggs frozen, not really appreciating the slim chances of the process being successful.
It was an emotional time, but there was no counselling. “Nobody sat me down and said: ‘Have you really thought about why you are doing this? What are the options? Where are you with your partner? Can you afford it? What’s going to happen if it doesn’t work?’ It all just felt like a business transaction, and that’s what I felt was brutal.”It was an emotional time, but there was no counselling. “Nobody sat me down and said: ‘Have you really thought about why you are doing this? What are the options? Where are you with your partner? Can you afford it? What’s going to happen if it doesn’t work?’ It all just felt like a business transaction, and that’s what I felt was brutal.”
Her play, Genesis Inc, explores the experience of four couples at an IVF clinic and will be directed by Laurie Sansom, former artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland.Her play, Genesis Inc, explores the experience of four couples at an IVF clinic and will be directed by Laurie Sansom, former artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland.
It is a comedy, which Kennedy believes may have put some theatres off staging it. “I think some people feel you can’t laugh at this subject, whereas I feel the opposite.”It is a comedy, which Kennedy believes may have put some theatres off staging it. “I think some people feel you can’t laugh at this subject, whereas I feel the opposite.”
Kennedy, whose previous plays include The Gift at the New Vic and The Prince and Pauper at the Unicorn Theatre, is also a novelist and screenwriter who is to adapt Iris Murdoch’s The Sea, The Sea for BBC television Kennedy, whose previous plays include The Gift at the New Vic and The Prince and Pauper at the Unicorn Theatre, is also a novelist and screenwriter who is to adapt Iris Murdoch’s The Sea, The Sea for BBC television.
She believes the IVF industry trades on fear and hope. “Nobody did anything illegal,” she said of her experience. “Ultimately they are a business, but they masquerade in this feminist narrative of helping women preserve their reproduction, and frankly I just don’t buy it.”She believes the IVF industry trades on fear and hope. “Nobody did anything illegal,” she said of her experience. “Ultimately they are a business, but they masquerade in this feminist narrative of helping women preserve their reproduction, and frankly I just don’t buy it.”
The new play was one of three announced for the summer of 2018 by the theatre. Others were a new play by Fiona Doyle, The Strange Death of John Doe, which is based on real events and tells the story of an unidentified body found face down in a suburban street; and the UK premiere of Describe the Night by American playwright Rajiv Joseph.The new play was one of three announced for the summer of 2018 by the theatre. Others were a new play by Fiona Doyle, The Strange Death of John Doe, which is based on real events and tells the story of an unidentified body found face down in a suburban street; and the UK premiere of Describe the Night by American playwright Rajiv Joseph.
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