Arches Lane Theatre – until 9 May 2026
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
I jumped at the chance to see this show again after 2 years – and it did not disappoint. Laura Mugford’s semi-autobiographic one-woman show is as entertaining and uplifting as ever.
With just a treadmill and a couple of boxes of props, Mugford takes us from the battle of Marathon, wondering what the ancient Greeks would make of 21st century athletes desperate to run in an event that killed the first runner, to pounding the streets of London in the race itself, taking time to hop off her treadmill and visit formative memories along the way.
Mugford describes herself as chronic in every way: a chronic planner, chronically early… and chronically ill, describing hospital visits with deadpan humour. Told to shield during Covid, a random challenge to run 5k from a housemate leads to her running for the first time since school, and the discovery of the freedom and calmness that can come from finding your rhythm. But she has always felt that she is running from the demons chasing her: memories of vindictive teachers and school bullies, the knowledge that her illness will flare up again and the self-doubt that these all cause.
Childhood flashbacks show an enthusiastic, imaginative girl whose confidence and energy are gradually eroded by hurtful comments and physical attacks and is labelled a troublemaker by school staff. The bullying, by Mrs C and the children, is written colourfully – brilliantly evoking an air of intimidation and unfairness. The description of hitting the wall running the marathon is also impressive, and the cathartic release when she breaks through the wall in her head, finally stopping looking back at her past but instead facing towards the future is still a glorious transformative moment.
26.2 Reasons to Stay Alive is warm, witty and inspirational, and this confident production marks Laura Mugford and Just a Regular House as names to watch out for in the future.