Blood on My Mother's Apron by Rachel Leighson

Ten years after Jack the Ripper shook British society to its core, another brutal crime hits the headlines: Amelia Dyer is arrested on suspicion of murdering over 300 infants, including her own daughter and son. Her one surviving child, Polly Dyer may be the key to her mother’s conviction -- if she can bring herself to remember the past. With the help of her friend Charlotte Cullum and renowned prosecutor...
Ten years after Jack the Ripper shook British society to its core, another brutal crime hits the headlines: Amelia Dyer is arrested on suspicion of murdering over 300 infants, including her own daughter and son. Her one surviving child, Polly Dyer may be the key to her mother’s conviction -- if she can bring herself to remember the past. With the help of her friend Charlotte Cullum and renowned prosecutor Horace Avery, Polly discovers that our traditional ideas of motherhood can often hide an untamable darkness.
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Blood on My Mother's Apron

Recommended by

  • Kate Danley:
    5 Sep. 2021
    “ They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and this true crime story of a mass murder will grab you by the throat from the first page and never let go. A terse, psychological drama filled with tension and verbatim quotes from the actual trial. A remarkable play. ”

In Order of Appearance:
Note: Evalina can be double with James and Charles can be Doubled with Frederick

EVALINA EDITH MARMON: 20s, female-identifying. Mother of the
female victim, Doris Marmon. A young governess who fell
pregnant and farmed her baby, Doris, temporarily to Amelia
Dyer. Desperate for justice for her baby's death.
(SUPPORTING)
HORACE AVORY: 40s-60s, male-identifying. A renowned criminal
lawyer of the late 1800s. Prosecutor in the Amelia Dyer
case. Determined, brilliant, but not without compassion.
(LEAD)
POLLY DYER (MARY ANN PALMER): 20s-30s, female-identifying.
Daughter of infamous serial killer, Amelia Dyer. Polly was
the only child of Amelia Dyer to survive to adulthood. She
is responsible for Amelia's killer nickname "The Angel
Maker". When she was a child and witnessed the murders of
infants by her mother's hand, Amelia told her she was making
angels for God. History is still unclear as to whether or
not Polly followed in her mother's murderous footsteps. She
was arrested with a baby several years after her mother's
execution, but no charges were ever filed. Extremely
intelligent, traumatized (but suppressed), untrusting.
(LEAD)
AMELIA DYER: 40s-50s, female identifying. The most prolific
female serial killer in UK history. Though only convicted
for two murders, she is suspected of the murder or attempted
murder of over 300 infants over the course of a nearly 30
year career. She was executed by hanging after her
conviction. Her crimes kickstarted the first laws to
officially create a more supervised foster care system out
of the remnants of baby farming. Her daughter, Polly, was
her only surviving relative after two dead husbands and two
dead children. (LEAD)
CHARLOTTE CULLUM: 30s-40s, female identifying. Landlady and
confidant of Polly Dyer. She and her husband, Albert Cullum,
owned the Palmers' home and lived in the same unit. She
testified in the trial, but maintained to have no knowledge
of Amelia's actions prior to her arrest. Incredibly kind and

2

affectionate, but very grounded with a hidden fiery streak.
(LEAD)
DR. JAMES SCOTT: 20s-40s, no gender specifications. An
established psychologist for the prosecution. Progressive,
arrogant. (SUPPORTING)
DR. FREDERICK LOGAN: 30s-50s, no gender specifications. An
established psychologist for the defense. Conservative,
misogynistic. (SUPPORTING)
CHARLES: 20s-40s, male-identifying. Guard outside Amelia's
cell. Oddly kind. (SUPPORTING)

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Broadway Bound Theatre Festival
    ,
    2020

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Theatre Row Off Broadway - BBTF
    ,
    2021

Awards

Finalist
,
Best New Play
,
Broadway World
,
2021