Writer and performer Jonny Hawkins opens Maureen with gentleness and poignancy, lulling us in to meet the octogenarian woman he knew and loved. The stage is a drab velvet nightmare, which Hawkins cleverly transforms into their costume to embody Maureen. Although it looks as if Maureen is part of the furniture, her mischievous spirit and fiery wit emphasises the wisdom and wealth of experience which accumulates with age. 

A self-declared ‘working-class glamour queen’, Maureen is unafraid to broach taboo subjects, ranging from defecation and geriatric sex to her own mortality. The script starts incredibly strong, with Maureen’s charm and humour shining through, but rather than becoming a cohesive and gripping story, Hawkins presents us with an array of anecdotes about people and places. Mirroring the meandering nature of a one-to-one conversation (in which a dominant person takes all the limelight) Maureen also weaves in the myth of Persephone, aligning her antics with the aged woman on stage. 

At the midway point, it does feel as if you are trapped in the conversation, silently nodding along while outside distractions spring to mind. Ultimately though, it is an enriching conversation you will be glad you had, one that sparks reflection on the pace of modern life as Maureen’s slows down and halts. Hawkins has honoured their special friend.  

Maureen, House Of Oz, until 27 August, 2.30pm.