Flarewave Festival Last Rites

About

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. 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.

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.

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.

A BSL interpreter will be present in the Front of House area before and after each performance to assist with queries, signposting, and communicating with venue staff.