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★★★★★
American actress, writer, and voice artist Sally Brooks is at the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a new play STAY, which is directed by Pádraic Lillis. Featuring themes of loss, grief, family and unexpected connections, it centres on principal character Sally, whose life was turned upside down by one small act of kindness for a child. I recently had the opportunity to review this one-person play, which is having its world premiere at Gilded Balloon this Fringe. Deeply reflective, personal and showcasing the lengths humans will go to for the people that they love, I found myself utterly captivated by Brooks’ thoughtful storytelling.
Strength in storytelling
Brooks’ narrative is a complex one, and consequently audiences are gently introduced to the events which transformed the main character’s life. It begins with an introduction to the incredibly focused and precise Sally, who grew up in a household of silence and not sharing feelings. Forced outside of her comfort zone thanks to one random Facebook message, the audience learns how a series of meetings led the character to cross paths with the widowed Peter and 5-year-old Harper.
The scene is set through extensive and clear dialogue, varied lighting design and atmospheric background music, which illustrate the evolving events in the character’s life. This is a narrative where order, control and quiet are replaced with high emotions, the unexpected and long-lasting connections, and you deeply appreciate the transformative impact this has on Sally. Brooks’ writing sincerely articulates the pent up feelings that people go through in the years after loss, particularly focusing on the impact on children.
Authentic perspectives
Commendable elements are the careful and considerate portrayals of grief and the sensitivity given to sharing the realities of a 5-year-old suddenly losing a loved one. Each anecdote is told from the central figure’s own perspective, but there is an authenticity to the character portrayals, which draws audiences into Brooks’ world. The more upsetting moments are also balanced with plenty of unforced humour, and this provides lots of respite amongst the trickier themes of the piece.
Heartfelt theatre that will ‘STAY’ with you
Emotional, raw and humorous, Brooks has created a truly beautiful piece of theatre in STAY. It’s been a while since I’ve watched such a moving autobiographical piece that so carefully and powerfully communicates the impact of grief. You can catch STAY at The Penny at Gilded Balloon Patter House (venue 24) until 30th August. Performances start daily at 15:00, with tickets available via the festival’s website.
*My ticket for STAY was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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