When We Died is an evocative and haunting exploration of grief, loss, and the process of healing. This solo performance, skilfully performed by actress and playwright Alexandra Donnachie, delves into the complex emotions surrounding death and the aftermath of losing a loved one.
A standout in this year's Prague Fringe
The play opens with an embalmer at a funeral home being confronted with a corpse who she recognises and, whilst the production doesn’t reveal the full details until much later on, from the outset there’s a clear feeling that, whatever the secret maybe, it’s not going to be good. Donnachie's portrayal of the embalmist, Rachel, is raw and authentic and draws the audience further and further into the depths of her character's inner turmoil.
The development of When We Died was a personal journey for Donnachie, who wrote the script based on both research and personal reflections. Donnachie drew inspiration from real-life stories and her own experiences, which helped create a narrative that is both poignant and brutally honest.
The minimalist set design, featuring a stark funeral home with subdued lighting, enhances the play's sombre mood. The use of the LED batons could, under a less experienced team, have ended up gimmicky - however they manage to create an atmosphere that oscillates between the chilling and the tender. A special mention should go to composer Curtis Arnold-Harmer whose soundscape underpins every scene in a way that never overpowers the scene, allowing the focus to remain firmly on Donnachie’s performance.
As the plot twists and turns so does Donnachie herself in increasing manner and movement coordinator Christina Fulcher deserves significant praise for not allowing Donnachie’s contortions to seem at odds with the melodrama unfolding. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the narrative to unfold organically, and giving the audience time to process the emotional weight of the story. Clever direction ensures that the play never veers into melodrama, maintaining a balance between the harrowing and the hopeful.
Donnachie’s writing is excellent and she delivers a script that is well-paced, thematically heavy and challenging, but infused with levity and wit when she senses her audience needs to breath. It is beautifully detailed so that despite the lack of a set and no props, the world and each scene are completely formed in our minds.
When We Died is a compelling and emotionally charged production. Alexandra Donnachie’s exceptional performance, combined with thoughtful direction and a powerful script, makes this play a standout in this year's Prague Fringe.
