If a young, single woman got pregnant in 18th-Century London, she had few options.

If she did not want to be thrown out on the street, she would hide the fact she was with child.

She could abandon her baby on the street in the hope someone kind would take it. Or she could take her newborn to the Foundling Hospital, which cared for abandoned babies.

The Foundling by Lewes-based Intrepid Theatre, opened with a woman in these circumstances.

Based on a true story, 15-year-old Harriet was in service and became pregnant by the master of the house.

She did not even know she was pregnant and was forced to give birth in a hedge.

She gave the baby to the Foundling Hospital and spent the rest of her life wondering what happened to her baby.

The play, which used only three actresses, explored how motherhood has changed over the past 150 years.

Combining dance and song, it was an ever-changing story of persecution for the women who endured harsh treatment and judgement.

In the second half, changes in adoption laws and perceptions of how pregnancies in young women have changed were explored. These include examples from Sixties Britain and one from the present day.

The idea for The Foundling came to writer John Retallack after visiting the Foundling Museum two years ago.

The museum has original works by Hogarth and important British artists from the 18th Century, who patronised the original Foundling Hospital established by Thomas Coram.

The Foundling Hospital cared for babies but enforced strict discipline, especially for the girls. The children were "clean" and were expected to work in service.

Intrepid Theatre pulled off this play magnificently. It was heart-warming, moving and educational and was, in fact, aimed at an audience of teenagers.

There was no intermission and none was needed. The 80-minute production was totally engrossing and flew by.

The play was reminiscent of the film The Magdalene Sisters which also explored the life of young, single mothers.

The most moving scene in the play was when a mother is finally reunited with her daughter after 18 years. Both were speechless but felt an instant connection.

The mother said she could not forgive herself for giving her child away.