This Birmingham Rep production has found its ideal space in the MAC’s small and intimate theatre where the audience feel very much part of the drama.
And what a drama. Lucy Caldwell’s new play is a tightly written, claustrophobic mini tour de force of the last few weeks of the life of a teenager dying of cancer.
With a cast of just four and no scene changes, there is no let-up in the action which left many of us crying into our hankies. That said, it isn’t all doom and gloom as the trials and tribulations of a family in turmoil also has its humour.
The risk of this play is that it stands or falls on the strength of its lead actress as Sophie, the dying girl, dominates the story.
In Imogen Doel, the Rep have found a real star as she is thoroughly believable, likeable, impish and yet tragic all at the same time.
Alongside her Amanda Ryan is spot on as Judy, the grieving mum whose idealistic dreams of giving her daughters freedom are crashing to the ground with each day.
Jayne Wisener is another young talent who copes well with a difficult role as the sister Calliope who is trying to settle into a new life as she watches her sister depart hers.
In the role of the austere grandmother Daphne, Jane Lowe has the least attractive part but still carries it off well although her Birmingham accent does sometimes slip into something indefinable.
Directed by Rep artistic director Rachel Kavanaugh, its short run at the mac is a shame as Notes to Future Self is a brave and thought-provoking piece of theatre. But it does go on tour taking in Bromsgrove Artrix on March 21 and Wolverhampton Arena on March 28.
Until March 12
Rating * * * *
