Verbatim Theatre can touch audiences at their very core, I Love You, Mum– I Promise I Won’t Die successfully achieves that. When sixteen-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs dies on a night out at a rave after taking a lethal dose of MDA family, friends and teachers are left shocked and grief-stricken.
Writer Mark Wheeler took his time to interview friends and family to create a fitting tribute (play) to a young man’s life who was taken too soon and without warning. David Chafer in the role of Mark interviews all of his friends and family throughout the production as he researches for the play he is writing to celebrate Daniel’s life and raise awareness of the devastating dangers of drugs.
The remaining cast of four switches between characters smoothly. Cobie Scott-Ward switches predominantly between (Daniel’s Mum) and Hope a close friend. Alongside Alex Colley as Tim ( Daniel’s Dad), who attempted to make sense of what’s happening.
Sean Radfords outsanding performances switch between Jack (close friend) and Daniel’s brother. Towards the end of the play he performs the final moments between Dan and his girlfriend Jenna (Amy Zoldan) as she relives their final conversation.
The moving performances combined with Daniels’ parent’s filmed conversations explaining how they felt about their son and their depth of grief explores in detail the devastating impact and void which is felt by everyone who knew him. Their memories remain strong, and it is clear that those who knew him will never forget him.
Life is made of moments, memories and conversations and the strong theme running throughout this production is the strength people get from all these once there is nothing left and we can no longer speak to the person who has died. Upon leaving the Theatre I messaged my children to tell them I loved them, although it fell on deaf ears!
For more information on this play and future productions at the Brockley Jack Theatre, please use the links below. There’s also links to the foundation set up in Daniel’s memory, ran by Fiona (his Mum) please take a look and see the work they are doing.
Four Stars.
Jack Studio Theatre
Https//www.octopusdreamtheatre.co.uk/cast
Twitter @foundationdsm
Instagram @dsmfoundation
Facebook @daniealspargomabbsfoundation
The Drug Education charity dsmfoundation.org.uk
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