I Love You, Now What? Directed by Toby Clarke.

I Love You, Now What? Written and performed By Sophie Craig. The play opens the door wide to the grief experienced before and after losing a parent. Where do you go? What’s left? Soon realising your alone navigating the world without their constant support.

Ava and Theo meet unexpectedly on a night out and with the help of alcohol things move rather quickly. Neither of them are initially interested in having a relationship and start seeing each other. It’s only after an argument and the words “I love you” spill out that the couple realise where they are emotionally together.

All the while Ava is watching her Dad weaken and lose the ability to communicate coherently. Slipping away before her eyes. Such a powerful and devastating performance showing the audience the grip cancer can takes on someone.

Entwined two-way conversations between Ava, Theo and her therapist after her Father’s death touch the surface of her emotional state. The therapist told her that we push people away when we are grieving and Theo is telling her is he leaving as she has shut down and closed him off.

The timing during the scene is impeccable all three performers are flawless. The scene moved and shifted to the rhythm of Ava’s grief flowing from all directions leaving her confused and hurt, completely helpless and alone with feelings engulfing her that she has never had to negotiate before.

The emotional rollercoaster will ebb and flow taking your emotions on a journey where you will be laughing and without warning be close to tears. Grief is hard to recreate as it often catches you by surprise. The quiet reflective moments Ava takes are an important part of working through grief, time to remember, process and heal.

Although there is a napkin provided I would recommend taking extra tissues, you might just need them too. You will also find a postcard on your seats with “key info and resources” Please take a look at it.

For more information or help surrounding grief please visit the links below.

Five Stars

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-love-you-now-what?

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/