tickets | TRAILER | PHOTOS | BEHIND-THE-SCENES | BSL VIDEO | POST-SHOW event | CREDITS

★★★★

THE SCOTSMAN

★★★★

THE GUARDIAN

★★★★★

EVERYTHING THEATRE

A BOUNDARY-BREAKING SHOW FOR ALL

How do you say goodbye when words were never there?

Arjun’s father never learnt to sign, and now that he’s gone, Arjun must find his own way to honour him. In a world where ancient traditions meet modern reality, Arjun embarks on a deeply personal and visually mesmerising quest to create a farewell ritual for his father – one woven from memory, love, and loss.

Travel from the UK to India in Last Rites, a stunning fusion of visual storytelling, electrifying movement, and an immersive soundscape you can feel as well as hear. This is theatre like you’ve never experienced it before, rich with emotion, beauty, and innovation,

Created by internationally acclaimed theatre-makers Ramesh Meyyappan and George Mann, multi-award-winning Ad Infinitum’s (Translunar Paradise ★★★★★ The Observer, Light ★★★★★ The Times), Last Rites redefines what theatre can be.

A feast for the senses, designed for everyone. With no spoken words, this unforgettable performance speaks in movement, visuals, and rhythm. Featuring creative captions, Sign Language, and a deep, resonant soundtrack that can be felt or heard, Last Rites is truly for deaf, Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences alike.

A story of love. A story of loss. A story that transcends language.

SHow information

Last Rites is a non-verbal piece of theatre with no spoken words that is accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences. The performance includes a soundtrack with heavy use of bass so that it can be felt or heard by audience members.

Running Time 65 mins (no interval)

Last Rites is suitable for ages 14+.

This show contains strobe lighting, haze, loud music and heavy use of bass.

Last Rites contains themes of grief and death, parental abuse and trauma.

Powerful physical storytelling
The Stage
An extremely moving piece of theatre
The National Scotland
★★★★
Tremendous
The Guardian
★★★★
A mighty theatrical lyricism
The Scotsman
★★★★★
Last Rites is a triumph…as real, raw and beautiful as it gets
The Reviews Hub
★★★★★
Utterly exceptional
Everything Theatre
★★★★
Stunning performance
All Edinburgh Theatre
★★★★
Devised theatre at its finest
Salterton Arts Review
★★★★
Truly captivating
North West End UK
★★★★
Extraordinary physicality, projection and soundscape
A Youngish Perspective
Moving
Disability Arts Online
Uplifting piece of theatre crossing many boundaries
Plays International

FIND OUT ABOUT THE SHOW IN BSL

PHOTOS

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Photos by Jack Offord and Camilla Greenwell

TRAILER

Film by Camilla Adams with additional footage by Ben Hewis and music by Akintayo Akinbode

TOUR DATES, TIMES & TICKETS

2025

NORTH WALL ARTS CENTRE, OXFORD

Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 January 2025 | 7.30pm
Post-show discussion Thursday 16 January
BOOK TICKETS HERE

DERBY THEATRE, DERBY

Thursday 23 - Friday 24 January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

ROYAL & DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON

Tuesday 28 - Wednesday 29 January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

OLivier Theatre, BEDALES, HAMPSHIRE

Thursday 30th January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

CORN EXCHANGE, NEWBURY

Tuesday 4 - Wednesday 5 February 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH

Saturday 8 February 2025 | 7.45pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

NEW WOLSEY Theatre, IPSWICH

Thursday 13 - Saturday 15 February 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

THE LOWRY, QUAYS THEATRE, SALFORD

Tuesday 18 - Wednesday 19 February 2025 | 8pm
Post-show discussion Wednesday 19 February
BOOK TICKETS HERE

BRISTOL OLD VIC, BRISTOL

Tuesday 15 - Saturday 19 July 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE

2024

SHOREDITCH TOWN HALL, LONDON

Wednesday 24 - Saturday 27 January 2024 | 7:30pm

MANIPULATE FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH

Saturday 3 (6pm) - Sunday 4 February 2024 | 8pm

BSL E-FLYER | LAST RITES

behind-the-scenes

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan. The background is black and Ramesh is slightly lit from the side revealing half of his face and one arm. He is leaning towards the camera with his eyes wide open.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan. He is wearing a white vest and the image shows his chest and head. He is against a black background and looks like he is falling backwards. He is looking up above him with his mouth slightly open.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan. He is sat cross legged with his hands in a prayer position, looking up. He is sitting on a black floor with a black background so it looks as though he is floating!

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan. He is to the right hand side of the image and wearing a white vest and grey trousers. He is against a black background and sparsely lit. He appears to have just fallen onto his back and has his arms and legs raised.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan against a black background. He is lit from the side so the right hand side of his face and shoulders are in shadow. He is looking upwards and his fingers are touching his throat.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan wearing a white vest. Only his head and shoulders are visible and he is lit from the side so his right hand side is in shadow. His eyes are fairly wide open and his hands are raised in a prayer position.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan. The image is mostly dark, with a single bright light shining towards the camera at the centre. This is back-lighting Ramesh who is sat on the floor holding himself up on his hands and looking upwards.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan sitting on the floor looking as though he is in the middle of getting up. The background and floor is black and Ramesh is wearing a white vest and grey trousers. He is partly in shadow.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is sat cross legged on the floor in the middle of signing.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is kneeling with both of his hands cradling his face. His eyes are closed and his head is slightly turned and resting on his hands.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room in the background, in the middle of a dynamic movement across the floor. In the foreground are the backs of two people watching him. Lots of pages of images and writing are stuck on the wall.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. This is a close-up of Ramesh’s head and shoulders. He has his head bent down looking at his hands which are resting on top of each other, palms raised, close to his head.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is kneeling on one knee in a relaxed position and is smiling at something off camera.

Photo of designer Katie Sykes sitting looking with concentration at actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room, who is slightly blurry in the foreground and pointing his finger.

Photo of people in the rehearsal room for Last Rites. Three people are sitting on the floor and two people are sitting behind a table with laptops. Everyone is looking at actor Ramesh Meyyappan who is kneeling and in the middle of acting something o

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He has his hands raised and is miming pushing something to one side to look around it.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is in the middle of laughing!

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He has his hands and one leg raised and is in the middle of moving to the side with a smile on his face.

Photo of sound designer and composer Tayo Akinbode in the rehearsal room. He is smiling and holding headphones whilst sitting at a table with his laptop in front of him. He is wearing a red hat and a treble clef earring.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is facing sideways and is in the middle of signing something with his hands, his fingers are raised.

Photo of director George Mann and stage manager Clare Hannah in the rehearsal room. George is in the foreground and wearing a blue hoodie. He is kneeling on the floor with one hand under his chin and smiling up at something off camera. Hannah is sli

Photo of video and projection designer Chris Harrisson sat at a table with a projector in front of him. He is looking at something off camera and smiling.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is in the middle of signing and has his arms raised in front of him. Lots of pages of images and writing are stuck on the wall.

Photo of actor Ramesh Meyyappan in the rehearsal room. He is standing in the centre of a grey mat with his arms raised in front of him.

Videos by David Ellington, music by Akintayo Akinbode
Photos by Camilla Adams

POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS

Two headshots in black and white: Left, Ramesh Meyyappan, a South Asian man wearing a dark shirt. Right, David Ellington, a Black man wearing a white t-shirt. Underneath, text reading "Post-show discussions: Selected tour dates in 2025".

After select performances, join Ramesh Meyyappan, co-creator and performer of Last Rites, in a post-show discussion with artist and theatre maker David Ellington. Find out more about his experience of making the show and the inspiration behind its creation.

Ramesh Meyyappan is a theatre maker who develops performances using an eclectic mix of visual and physical theatre styles. Something of a pioneer, Ramesh has continually explored visual styles that allow him to make work entirely accessible while raising awareness of deaf performers and directors. Over the years, his solo performances and collaborations have toured nationally and internationally to much critical acclaim.

David Ellington is a performer, artist and theatre maker. His roles have been diverse, including film, theatre, television drama, and presenting since 1997. David has always enjoyed creative works including TV and film making projects, and theatre workshop projects.

Post-show events will be in BSL and translated by BSL interpreters into spoken English. They will take place after the performance for around 30 minutes, and are free with your show ticket for that night.

CREDITS

Co-created by George Mann and Ramesh Meyyappan

Deviser and Performer - Ramesh Meyyappan

Director - George Mann

Sound Designer & Composer - Tayo Akinbode

Video and Projection Designer - Christopher Harrisson

Lighting Designer - Ali Hunter

Set and Costume Designer - Katie Sykes

Production Manager and Engineering - Ed Borgnis

Company Stage Manager (Operating) - Hannah Clare

Technical Stage Managers (Relighting) - Chaz Webb & Frazer Riches

BSL Interpreter On Tour - Pascale Maroney

Rehearsal BSL Interpreters - Chris Curran & Laura Tanner

BSL Consultant - Lynn Stewart-Taylor

Dramaturgical Support - Megan Vaughan Thomas, Ifẹ Grillo, Dr Paddy Ladd, DL Williams, Aisha Ali and Nir Paldi

Creative Associate - Jithya Wijesinghe

PR - Mobius Industries

Promotional and BSL videos - David Ellington

Promotional Photography - Camilla Adams and Jack Offord

Trailer - Camilla Adams

Wellbeing support provided by The Artist Wellbeing Company

SUPPORTED BY

Last Rites is made possible through funding from Arts Council England and Bristol City Council and co-commissioned by London International Mime Festival, Derby Theatre and Corn Exchange Newbury. This production is supported by Paul and Joanna Pearson.