Review: DUST, Soho Theatre

Alice has been dead for three days. She's committed suicide, but finds herself stuck in the position of not knowing where she's at. Having the ability to travel around her old surroundings, she views the aftermath of her fatal decision. Her family mourn, her friends question why and other acquaintances don't really know what to feel.

These different reactions cause Alice to reflect on what and whom she's left behind, making her wonder whether she made the right decision. The real strength of Dust is that it offers no solutions. Of course it can't; everyone's experiences of mental health are different.

However, what this piece does do is present a situation to an audience, thus encouraging the beginning of a conversation. The hope is that the spectator will then go out and continue to talk about it.

There's no denying that Milly Thomas is unbelievably talented. She has created a show that has a beautiful rawness to its composition. It's this grittiness that enables the piece to get right to the core of the issue at hand. But it's never self-indulgent. Whilst Thomas may or may not have drawn on her own experience of mental health, Dust is written in a way where it can be accessible to a wide array of people.

Of course, it can't all be doom and gloom, and Thomas has tactically placed a lot of humour throughout. This prevents it from ever getting too glib. There are moments when the jokes feel misplaced, but that could easily come down to my own personal taste.

But forget the 80-minute production for a moment. Of course the event itself is important, however it is what's happened prior to the performance and it's repercussions after that are what really matters.

It is imperative that as a society we begin talking about mental health in an open and inclusive manner. For too long it has been swept under the rug, being ignored until it becomes too late. We must encourage discussion; in order to attempt to relieve the burden people are holding.

It isn't good enough to say "Oh that's crazy Auntie Alice, being crazy Auntie Alice." No, Auntie Alice is suffering and needs help. And even if by watching Dust, one person is encouraged to talk, instead of harming themselves, then the show has done its job.

Dust at the Soho Theatre until 17 March

Photo credit: The Other Richard

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