Afterlife

Dorfman Theatre. June 2nd 2021

First night back. This time it felt more normal and even though social distancing remains, it’s familiar.

This is AfterLife. An understated little gem of a play. It’s based on the simple premise that when you die you get to choose a memory that will be the colour of your afterlife. Not what actually happened but your memory of it.

How flipping lovely is that as an idea.

But this little gem also has serious pedigree – Jack Thorne, Bunny Christie and Jeremy Herrin. It’s a Headlong co-production. I love what they do. This is no exception.

And so we follow a week at the bureaucratic facility that helps the newly deceased find and choose their memory and pass to the next place; or not.

It was incredibly touching. It felt like such a simple yet heart warming idea. And it was the simplicity of the memories chosen that was so truly touching.

With a diverse cast of seeming misfits, this had me from the first shoes as you enter the space and my question to my bubble – which shoes would you be?

4/5 a warm cosy hug of a play that leaves you with a lump in your throat and hoping that this could be what actually happens.