Theatre Ad Infinitum: Last Rites at Lowry
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
The ever-brilliant Ad Infinitum return to Lowry with a brand-new solo performance – Last Rites is a story of grief and ritual, told from a Deaf man’s perspective.
Blending physical, and non-verbal storytelling with dynamic projection and a unique soundtrack, that can be felt as well as heard, Last Rites tells the story of Arjun, who travels from the UK to India to perform his father’s funeral rites. However, Arjun’s father didn’t ever learn sign language, and the ancient Hindu practice was never passed on to him, so Arjun needs to find his own way to say goodbye.
A beautifully crafted non-verbal piece of theatre, Last Rites has no spoken words making it accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences. A resonant soundtrack, incorporating heavy use of bass, means the performance can be felt or heard by the audience too.
Created by internationally acclaimed theatre makers Ramesh Meyyappan and George Mann, Last Rites has been shaped by Meyyappan and Mann’s own memories: the death of their fathers and their own lived experiences of fatherhood. Through this powerful and poignant performance, they explore the universal connection between grief and ritual, and audience and performer.
Hailing from Bristol, the multi-award-winning international ensemble Ad Infinitum have been devising and touring socio-political theatre, and igniting passionate debate for almost two decades. Led by Co-Artistic Directors, George Mann and Nir Paldi, the company draw on innovative storytelling and an experimental style to engage audiences with current issues. Working with artists, activists and communities, they tell stories to revolutionise audiences and drive change in the world.
