James Rushmore‘s new play Before I’m Dead is the moving story about seventeen year old Zara (Myla Carmen.) Whose dying from an aggressive brain tumour. Her final wishes are to write and record her own eulogy and have it broadcast on perhaps Radio 4.
Stuart (Pete Ashmore) is a social worker assigned to younger patients with terminal illnesses and has been assigned to Zara due to a clerical error. On the form, apparently, Zara is 7, not 17. The paperwork mess up leads to an unlikely friendship between them.
The pair get off to a tricky start. Anyone who is familiar with teenagers will recognise some of the confrontational behaviour traits from Zara. Stuart tries to impress her with his hand puppet, which often works on younger clients. Funnily enough, Zara isn’t having any of it and doesn’t hold on back on what she thinks of them and him.
However, Zara doesn’t need cheering up or being helped in the way Stuart is used to helping people. Zara just wants a witness to fulfil her wish and leave behind a lasting eulogy that will hopefully be heard by many. However, before she can trust Stuart, she puts him through his paces, which he isn’t used to but rises to the challenge at the end.
Carmen and Ashmore have a strong stage rapport and work closely together throughout the play. They bring both characters to life, showing their vulnerability and strength in equal measures. We meet various other characters through the story played by the cast. From Zara’s father to the other social workers!
It’s a touching and poignant piece of writing. Children facing the toughest situations can be some of the strongest characters you can meet. Listen yo them as they can alao be the wisest too. My only advice would be to take some tissues.
For more information about Before I’m Dead and future productions at The Glitch Theatre in Waterloo, please use the link below.
Four Stars
Photo credit: Phoebe Dyer
Writer – James Rushbrooke
Director – Oliver Savage
Starring Myla Carmen & Pete Ashmore
Producer – Eleanor Shaw
Assistant Director – Nat Neri
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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