Traverse Theatre
Four stars
Matters of life and death are top of the bill in Morna Young’s new play, in which ageing actress Viv gathers her extended family around her for one last hurrah on her eightieth - and final - birthday before she takes her lastl curtain call. Her cross generational cast includes her old luv of an ex husband Bill, her grumpy son Geoff, God fearing daughter Lily, her newly pregnant granddaughter Sasha, and milksop grandson James, who comes with his rock star girlfriend Cass in tow. Then there is Carol, her partner who has already been part of the family in other ways.
Viv holds court in what looks and sounds like some latter day Chekhovian soap opera on Richard Kent’s grandiloquent looking set that includes the grandest of pianos, which someone eventually plays. Everyone involved has their own drama to contend with as old resentments and new responsibilities see the family get caught up in the fallout of who gets what in the will. Not to be upstaged, however, this is Viv’s production, with her coup de theatre coming as she casts herself as director of her own demise.
Young and the play’s co-creator Alex Fthenakis have taken the complexities and controversies of assisted dying and given the subject a somewhat contrary breeziness in Katie Posner’s co-production between the Traverse, Paines Plough and the Belgrade Theatre Coventry.
This is led by a magnificent Alison Peebles as Viv, who brings a weight of experience and old school largesse to the role. Everyone gets their moment in Young’s busy script for her dynastic saga. It is a treat to see such a big ensemble cast of fantastic actors such as Benny Young as Bill, Liz Kettle as Carol, Hilary Maclean as Lily and Gilly Gilchrist as Geoff, flesh out Young’s story. Plays should always be this big.
Until 30 Aug, Various times.
The Herald, August 11, 2026
ends
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