Colder Than Here by Laura Wade. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 24th September 2023.

3***: William Russell

Pam Ayres’ poem Woodland Burial printed in the programme sets the scene for this story about how Myra, mother of two grown up daughters, who has terminal cancer, is facing up to what we all will have to face up to in the end. In reality we probably do not. Preferring it to come as an unwelcome surprise – or perhaps a welcome one. Myra knows what she wants – a woodland burial in a cardboard coffin and no fuss, which is not quite how her daughters want it to be. As for her husband Alec he seems happy to go along with whatever she wants and spends most of his time trying to repair a heater – the house is freezing cold – and having a row with the boiler company who are failing to send someone to fix it. Colder Than Here is a touching piece and Laura Fitzpatrick creates a sympathetic Myra. But director Jenny Eastop, while getting good performances from all of her cast, has opted – there is no set designer credited – to play the events from September to March in what appears to be the family living room but when things go to the outside world to cover the sofa and chairs with green and brown dust sheets to tell us we are in a variety of cemeteries that Myra is considering for her final resting place. It simply does not work

As the back wall of the stage is a screen on which time and place are projected there really is no need for the endless trotting off with covers they have removed and returning to put them back that the actors playing the daughters are lumbered with. It remains, however, a moving and provocative play and this revival – it was first performed at the Soho Theatre in2005 – is well worth catching. Lots to talk about afterwards.

Cast

Laura Fitzpatrick – Myra.

Lisa Minichiello – Jenna.

Emma Riches – Harriet.

Michael Tuffnell – Alec.

Creatives

Director – Jenny Eastop.

Lighting & Sound Designer - Matthew Karmiag.

Production Photographs – Tom Godber.