Southwark Playhouse Borough – until 4 May 2024
Reviewed by Rebecca Sargeant
4****
You Are Going To Die, the latest one-man show from the mind of Adam Scott-Rowley, is nothing short of a masterclass on body language and facial expressions. Armed with just a random toilet and microphone as his only props, Scott-Rowley jumps between an array of interesting characters who are each identifiable from his movements.
Between an elderly person dwelling on the death of their cat, a working-class widow reflecting on his mother-in-law and new sexual habits, a young party girl stuck in a well, and the feeble figure who gestures to the audience with two fingers at any given moment – the various characters in You Are Going To Die put together a fascinating mismatched narrative that is representative of life, death, and everything in between.
The lack of set and clothes gives the show an unusual but endearing tone. Scott-Rowley being naked for the entire piece, flashing his hole at the audience multiple times, isn’t for everyone. However, this decision is beautifully reflective of the themes in the piece. When stripped of artificial layers, everyone is simply a person who all experience feelings of lust, anxiety, and loneliness. Centred around a porcelain toilet in the middle of the stage, his characters shift between moments of euphoria and despair which amazingly demonstrates Scott-Rowley’s range as a performer.
I applaud the production team for their use of sound and lighting throughout the piece. Matt Cater’s lighting is essentially another prop, and as the show progresses, it is easy to work out which character is returning based on this. However, anyone who is susceptible to seizures should be aware that one sequence toward the end of the piece uses a lot of flashing lights. Sam Baxter’s sound design is also stellar; however, Phil McDonnell’s final composition truly makes the show as a whole.
You Are Going To Die will make you laugh and cry, sometimes within a matter of seconds, and is a beautiful and raw take on the one thing humanity shares: death.