Eggs Aren’t That Easy To Make, a queer romantic comedy about a lesbian couple navigating the complexities of starting a family, arrives at Riverside Studios from 30 March to 12 April.
The story follows Claire and her best friend Dan, who make a pact at a 21st birthday party that he will be her sperm donor if she ever finds herself in a lesbian relationship. A decade later, Claire and her girlfriend Lou are struggling to find a donor, and Dan is ready to step in despite being in a relationship with Naomi, who does not want children.
As IVF treatments, antenatal classes and the realities of impending parenthood put pressure on the group, Eggs Aren’t That Easy To Make explores friendship, boundaries and the additional challenges LGBTQ+ couples face when building a family, all with warmth and humour.
Written by Maria Telnikoff and directed by Lauren Tranter, the play premiered at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to critical acclaim. Telnikoff’s previous work includes My Dad Wears A Dress at Nottingham Playhouse and All The Men Are Going To Hate Me at Soho Theatre, while Tranter’s directing credits include With Nail and Without Nail at Camden People’s Theatre and Close Enough to Touch at Theatre503.
Maria Telnikoff, the writer, said “it’s important to see joyful, queer narratives (queer joy is radical!) and for queer people to have the ability to dream about futures involving family. The genre of rom com, so often the domain of heterosexual romance, provides a fun and optimistic lens through which a queer love story can be told.’’
The cast features Rachel Andrews, Esther Carr, Sophia Rosen-Fouladi and Tom Kingman, with lighting design by Zoe Beeny. The production is presented by Big Sofa Theatre, a queer-focused new writing company led by Telnikoff and Tranter.
Riverside Studios continues its 50-year legacy as a hub for theatre, film, comedy and the arts, celebrating its half-century with a series of events throughout the spring.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
