Babymother is widely considered to be the first truly Black British musical, grounded in the vibrant, raw energy of the Black dancehall scene at the heart of late-1990s Harlesden, the hard core of British reggae. Babymother's authentic feel is alive with the vibe of late-1990s Black British youth culture found in London's NW10. Stylish, self-confident, aspirational, entrepreneurial and replete with attitude, these ragga singers and ragga girls express themselves freely through their music, distinctive sense of style and dramatic fashions.
Presented by Film 4 and featuring music by Beres Hammond, Carroll Thompson (who also acted as music consultant on the film and who is performing at the Southbank Centre on 16 July as part of Dennis Bovell's Lovers Rock night ) and Cinderella, it stars familiar faces from stage and screen including Don Warrington (Rising Damp, Death in Paradise), Jocelyn Esein (Little Miss Jocelyn, Upstart Crow), Wil Johnson (Outlander, Waking the Dead ) and Corinne Skinner-Carter (Burning an Illusion, Pressure).
Newly remastered in 2K by the BFI, Babymother is released on Blu-ray for the first time on 26 July. Extras include director Julian Henriques' musical short We the Ragamuffin (1992), which formed the inspiration and was expanded on for Babymother, plus newly filmed interviews with Julian Henriques, producer Parminder Vir, actress Anjela Lauren Smith and music consultant Carroll Thompson.
In Jamaican English a woman who is a 'babymother' has a special status for the child's father. Anita (Anjela Lauren Smith, Eastenders) has got style, energy and attitude - her ambition is to become the local dancehall deejay star, a strong, culturally emancipated Black young woman in the masculinist world of reggae. Before she can triumph on stage with her 'rude girl' friends Yvette (Jocelyn Esein) and Sharon (Caroline Chikezie, Æon Flux), she has to prove herself - and she has some growing up to do along the way. Bringing up two kids is no easy matter, nor are her relationships with her mum (Corinne Skinner-Carter), sister Rose (Suzette Llewellyn, Eastenders), and her babyfather Byron (Wil Johnson) - a singer with his own ambitions. Don Warrington plays the ruthless promoter Luther. See a clip at the link above.
