Oscar Brudenall-Jones writes and stars in this one act play about Aaron, a man dealing, or not dealing, with the death of his father from Covid-19. Aaron is on a train journey to Cornwall to scatter his dad’s ashes, currently hidden in a tub of chocolates. We are taken along for the ride, both physical and mental as we see Aaron’s roller-coaster of emotions reaching breaking point the closer he gets to his destination.
The story is told in emotional shifts between manic, up-beat clowning and quiet introspection, the lighting changing colour abruptly to signify the flip between the two states. Aaron tells us his job is an entertainer, and we are treated to jokes, impressions and physical comedy, as his abundance of nervous energy drives him to find any distraction he can to avoid having to deal with the reality of loss. As the play progresses, the lighting and the emotions begin to blur. The grief spills out, disrupting the forcefully cheerful persona Aaron has adopted.
Brudenall-Jones wrote the play as a way to process the death of his own father during the pandemic, coupled with a desire to explore the guilt felt by people who were unable to see their dying loved ones due to social distancing. Guilt is a constant theme throughout the one-hour show, whether it’s the simple guilt of having stolen his dad’s ashes or the more complex guilt of having been the one to give his father Covid-19, the emotion seems to be the driving force behind a lot of Aaron’s behaviour.
Director Esalan Gates has kept the effects to a minimum in order to highlight the performance. Cleverly draped fabric forms a simple but versatile set, with the material substituting for a variety of props and scenery, including a staircase and a rippling sea. In the centre of it is a solitary train seat, where the tub of chocolates spends more time than the hyperactive Aaron.
Performing a one-man play is no easy thing, and the pacing at the start was a little too hurried, giving the audience no time to register the jokes. Brudenall-Jones soon settled into his part, however, and became an engagingly flawed character, that you couldn’t help rooting for as he tries to do one last thing for his dad.
The show plays at the Drayton Arms Theatre until the 29th of November. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/tickets.php
Reviewer: Charlotte Mansfield
Reviewed: 21st November 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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