About a real baby onstage at the theatre

[Bluebellsagain]

This weekend I saw a West End show with a cast that included a baby (looked to be 6-9
months old certainly no older.) It was on stage in two scenes and was a focal point of the action. Baby seemed very placid where needed, also cried where (apparently) the script required it. I was pretty surprised, never seen this before and not sure how I felt about it. The play was quite dark subject matter wise and also featured some children aged between about 5 and 10 who were onstage in the very disturbing end scene.

AIBU that it seems odd to put your young baby in for that?! He doesn't appear to have been multi-cast (unlike the other kids) so must do 6/7 shows a week!

I assume you will not watch every show so it won't matter.

Just kidding... I'm sure be sure that the baby in question will be from a selection of different babies, dolls, rag dolls, puppies () at times .

Is it the Billie piper one, she talked about the baby on graham Norton show. She said there ate several babies and that she had a favourite

Is that the one Sienna Miller is/was in? She spoke about the babies on the Graham Norton show. They rotate them apparently.

Are several! Not she ate several 😂

Oops yes that would be the one!

She said there ate several babies and that she had a favourite

tasty little things aren't they?

poor babies being eaten by Billie Piper!

they will have a number of babies available - child performers are very regulated

No it wasnt billie or sienna. It was "The Ferryman", set during the Troubles in NI. Only one baby was listed in the cast. It seemed to be awake throughout its scenes and just looking around, it was a full west end house and I couldn't help wondering what it was thinking about the situation!

Yerma

How do they make it cry on demand!?

tasty little things aren't they?

Well, Dean Swift thought so ....

They have very strict laws about child performers, there will be a curfew, imposed time limit, chaparone, licence from the local authority and obviously a guardian.

Not sure if I'd do it, but each to their own. I certainly admire the performers either way. Usually if adult content then the kids won't realise the context or will have it carefully explained.

They pinch it to make it cry

or they use a pre recorded cry!

Well, Dean Swift thought so

Who?

How do they make it cry on demand!?

Swift nip usually does the trick.

I saw Madam Butterfly a few years ago with the Welsh National Opera, the little boy was an actual live child,on stage for ages happily playing quietly while everyone was belting out their lungs- I was fascinated at how they managed to get him to stay so still and do as he was told as he was probably only 3 at most.

If someone pinched my baby of beat them to death

If no pinching then the money fromchildlabour must be nice

Wouldn't the crying be a sound effect?

I'd beat them to death

And it was late,way past his bedtime!

Does being held count as child labour?

I'd take that job.

My ds would never have been able to do this unless a requirement of the role was to scream constantly morning noon and night 😭

I always wonder whether child actors ever get confused about their post. So, say they think a horrible incident really happened but actually it was something they had an acting part in. I'm trying to think of an example but I can't!

The baby cry will be recorded I should think.