My Mother's Funeral play review: A poignant and provocative piece of theatre

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Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, “My Mother’s Funeral” is a critically acclaimed play based on writer Kelly Jones’ family's experience of planning a funeral and their shock at the costs.

Planning a loved one’s send off is tough for anyone but in Abigail’s case, there is absolutely no cash available to give her mum the final goodbye she feels she deserves. In fact, following a series of frantic calls to local funeral homes, Abigail (Nicole Sawyerr) discovers that even a basic burial will cost an eye watering £4,000. Ouch!

Her brother Darren (Samuel Armfield) is not prepared to stump up the cash leaving Abi in an impossible position. Unable to face up to the prospect of a “pauper’s funeral”, she quickly decides to pitch a new play to grab the attention of a pretentious theatre producer. If it’s edgy enough to satisfy his need for the theatrical equivalent of “Shameless”, she might just be able to fund a decent farewell for the mother she idolised.

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This play within a play aspect of the show is incredibly thought provoking. We’re privy to the brutal commissioning process poor Abigail endures and we’re made aware of how vulnerable playwrights can be as they await pay cheques and advancements that sometimes never come. Rhys Jarman’s simplistic and stripped back set teamed with Josh Gadsby’s stark lighting add to the raw, intense atmosphere that unfolds as the production process speeds up.

Abi needs this pay cheque. But how can she deliver a script that provides the levels of “working class rage” her male, middle-class producer (also played by Samuel Armfield) craves? Will a play about her writing a play to fund her own mother’s funeral cut the mustard or will the experience leave her broken, both financially and mentally?

The pressure on Abi’s young shoulders is tangible throughout the evening. Under Charlotte Bennett’s considered direction, Nicole Sawyer’s nuanced facial expressions encapsulate the horror Abi encounters in the rehearsal room when stories and memories about her mother, Pauline, are ignored by both the mansplaining producer and the actor playing her mum (Debra Baker). Abi’s jaw literally drops to the ground and her eyes stare in disbelief as both actor and producer collude together to create an awful working-class caricature of her mother.

Nicole plays Abi in such a relatable and warm way that the audience are equally horrified by the way her story is highjacked by two self-important snobs. With his slicked back hair and condescending voice, Armfield (as Abi’s producer) is the epitome of male entitlement.

Equally impressive is the way Debra Baker switches between a stereotypical working-class accent to an authentic upper middle class accent. Baker’s voice transforms from Eastenders’ Peggy Mitchell to Dame Judi Dench’s within a split second. It’s incredibly convincing. I’m sure anyone involved in theatre or tv production will find these scenes humorous but also painfully familiar!

This is a poignant and provocative piece of theatre that got me thinking about a lot of serious moral and ethical issues surrounding death, race, class, art and family. If you enjoy cutting edge, gritty and authentic theatre, then “My Mother’s Funeral” is well worth a watch.

My Mother's Funeral is on at Theatre Royal Plymouth until September 14. You can get tickets here.