My Mother’s Funeral: The Show
By Kelly Jones⭐ “WHAT TO SEE AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE” ⭐
The New York Times | inews
Incredibly witty and punchily crafted
Startling comedy sprung from class war and grief
Abigail’s mum is dead. But it turns out she can’t afford her to be.
Did you know how expensive it is to die? It’s £4000 for the funeral. Extra for flowers. And even more if you want sausage rolls. Otherwise, she will get a council funeral and an unmarked grave.
Then, when a theatre suddenly pulls out of Abigail’s new project, she is asked to write about something else. Something more raw, from her ‘unique working class lens.’ Something that will make the audience feel really, really bad about themselves. Audiences like that, apparently.
Yep. To afford the funeral, she has to write about her mum.
With power and playfulness, Kelly Jones’ new play tackles the inequalities around death, and the cost of turning your loved ones into art.
The commissioning of My Mother’s Funeral: The Show was enabled by a grant from the New Play Commission Scheme, a project set up by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, UK Theatre and the Independent Theatre Council, and funded by Arts Council England, the Theatre Development Trust and donations from actors, directors, playwrights and producers.
My Mother’s Funeral: The Show was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.
*Discount applies to ‘Standard’, ‘Standard with Babe In Arms’ and ‘18 and Under’ ticket types only (not ‘Open Concession’ or ‘Pay It Forward’)
Artwork credit: Rebecca Need-Menear
Following the performance on Tuesday 24 September, the play’s director Charlotte Bennett and Dee Ryding from Divine Ceremony will host an informal discussion and Q&A about the themes of the play, and about Divine Ceremony’s work in progressive funerals and end-of-life planning.
Startling comedy sprung from class war and grief
Incredibly witty and punchily crafted
Impressively dynamic
Powerful and emotionally intense
Sharp and very funny
Photos by Nicola Young @nicolayoungphotograph
