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Do This One Thing For Me theatre review: Refusing to avoid trauma

Unbearable grief and family promises keep this excellent drama ticking over

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Do This One Thing For Me theatre review: Refusing to avoid trauma

An intimate and moving addition to the world of one-woman shows, Do This One Thing For Me is an autobiographical storytelling of Jane Elias’ relationship with her father Beni, a Greek Holocaust survivor. Unable to promise that her father will get to fulfil his one wish (for them to dance together at her wedding), Elias sets out to honour him by attending a March Of The Living in Poland.

Flawlessly shifting between recordings of her father’s experiences and anecdotes of her own life as a thirtysomething woman, Elias’ grip on the audience is that of a seasoned actress. An undeniably cathartic performance, it is her willingness to lay herself bare on stage and a refusal to shy away from even the most painful memories that make this show so special. Humour is weaved delicately through an exploration of generational trauma, allowing Elias to take us on a journey as she learns to process the incomprehensible grief she faces. In this stunning tribute, Elias proves that all you need is a story to tell.

Do This One Thing For Me, Bedlam Theatre, until 26 August, 3.30pm; main picture: Michael Priest.

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