SYMBIONT
A reflection on death from the perspective of (spoiler alert) the dying.
This one-woman show was staged beneath the railway tracks of Waterloo station. As trains rumbled over us, we sat in a room draped with soft fabric, danced to Harry Belafonte, and worked through the gory details of what death looks like together. And in doing so, the grieving connected, and those yet to grieve prepared.
Funded by Arts Council England.
Everything Theatre
“SYMBIONT DELIVERS AN EMOTIONAL GUT PUNCH”
Longstaff Reviews
“AN ADMIRABLE PRODUCTION . . . leaves you feeling small and alone but connected with those around you”
The show came from a semi-autobiographical script by Patrick Swain, reflecting on the loss of his mother from her perspective. To balance the potentially triggering material, the show was directed to feel like a genuine conversation between friends.
All performances were captioned; not only to open the show to D/Deaf audience members, but also as a visual aid to drive home the more visceral details of this terminal illness story.
As a result, what began as a way of welcoming wider audiences became integral to the visual language of the show.
Produced in support of The Christie Charitable Fund.