Adrienne Kennedy’s autobiographical play – told in the form of a one-act, near-monologue to her son Adam – is a mesmerising and disquieting tale of a young playwright trying to make her name in a new world.

Playwright Adrienne Kennedy impulsively leaves New York for London with her young son, intent on adapting John Lennon’s book ‘In His Own Write’ for the stage.

In the heady atmosphere of the Swinging '60s, she finds herself rubbing shoulders with a dizzying array of celebrities and artists, including all four Beatles. And when her idols, Laurence Olivier – director of the National Theatre – and his influential literary manager Kenneth Tynan, along with actor Victor Spinetti, promise to produce her play, it seems like a dream come true. But slowly the stars seem to align in a different way.

Rakie Ayola won a BAFTA Best Supporting Actress Award in 2021 for her role in TV drama Anthony; her many leading television roles also include The Pact, Grace, Shetland, No Offence and Holby City. Her recent theatre work includes On Bear Ridge for National Theatre Wales/Royal Court, for which she won the Black British Theatre Award for Best Actress, and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End.

Diyan Zora, winner of the 2021 Genesis Futures Award, directs.

Each performance of this one-act play will be followed by a 20-minute film created by CFT's Digital team, on the background to the play, with contributions from a number of guests including Adam Kennedy. Entry for the screening is included in your ticket.

Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles? is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd concordtheatricals.co.uk