"So, if having intercourse but not having babies is on trend, why are you not the cover of Woman's Own magazine?"

The Barclay's have a love like no other but a void they face every day, and no matter what decade it’s not getting any easier to fill.

In the dawn of the post-war nuclear family and the 1960s sexual revolution, Anne’s infertility means she is suffocated by a society where she no longer fits. In the 1970s Annabelle’s friends force her to choose between motherhood and the fight for women’s rights. By the 1990s Annie’s plight is a gimmick to promote soap operas and magazines. Even today Anna’s desire for a baby is no easier to fulfil, and seemingly no easier to understand.

This won’t stop the Barclay’s in their pursuit of happiness and defining what a family means on their own terms.

Set across four time periods, Vacuum is a tender two-hander that explores the resilience of real love against joy and heartbreak. Questioning how much a couple can ever be expected to take, the Barclay’s are a testament to the old adage that if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.

Adapted from the playwright’s award-winning research ‘Reproduction, Medicine and the Media’ and inspired by true events, this play uses dialogue from the real couples who inspired these stories.

Part of The Hope Theatre's WIP Week 2026

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Running Time - 60 minutes

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UNDER 18s ARE NOT PERMITTED INTO THE THEATRE FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. 

Latecomers may not be admitted. 
Refunds and exchanges are not available.