A New Play That Asks: What Happens If We ‘Cure Death’?

Southwark Playhouse has revealed the full cast for the world premiere of Foreverland, an exciting new dystopian drama penned by rising playwright Emma Hemingford. Shortlisted for the prestigious Papatango Prize for New Writing in 2021, this thought-provoking play is set to debut at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 2nd to 19th October 2024, with a press night scheduled for Friday 4th October.

The Cast and Creative Team

Leading the cast is Emma McDonald, known for her roles in AMC’s Moonhaven and Amazon Prime’s The Serpent Queen. McDonald will take on the role of Alice, alongside Christopher York, fresh off his performance in Final Fantasy XVI and the Star Wars series Andor. York will portray Jay, Alice’s partner in a near-future world where immortality through gene therapy has become a reality.

Rounding out the ensemble is Una Byrne (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Move Over Mrs Markham) as Annie, and Valerie Antwi, who recently graced the stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as Dr Lane. This dynamic four-person cast promises to bring Hemingford’s complex characters and gripping narrative to life under the direction of Frederick Wienand (Pauline by Sophie Bentinck).

The Story: A Journey Into a Dystopian Future

Foreverland transports audiences to a not-so-distant future where biotechnology has advanced to the point where death is no longer an inevitability. The play centres on Alice and Jay, who make the monumental decision to undergo a revolutionary gene therapy treatment that extends their lives indefinitely. The pair optimistically believe that this decision will lead to the ideal existence: flawless careers, a perfect relationship, and the family they have always dreamed of. But as the play unfolds, it becomes clear that eternal life comes with unforeseen consequences.

In the words of Hemingford, “This is for her, really. She’s the one we’re doing this for,” the play echoes the emotional motivations behind the characters’ choices. At its heart, Foreverland is an intergenerational story that delves into universal themes of love, loss, and the sacrifices we make for those we care about. The questions posed by the narrative are profound: What truly makes a life worth living? How far would we go to stay with our loved ones? And what happens when the choices of one generation alter the lives of the next?

A Play That Speaks to Our Times

While Foreverland is firmly rooted in a dystopian vision of the future, its themes resonate with contemporary debates around biotechnology and the ethics of life extension. In recent years, Silicon Valley has poured vast sums into longevity research, with some scientists predicting that the first generation to live for hundreds of years has already been born. Hemingford’s play raises timely questions about the social and personal ramifications of such advancements. Is there a moral line we should never cross? What happens to society when death is no longer a part of life?

The play also explores the stark divide between those who can afford such life-altering technology and those left behind, highlighting the potential for a new kind of inequality where only the wealthy elite have access to immortality. This speculative yet chilling concept adds depth to the drama, drawing attention to the ever-present divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ in today’s world.

An Intimate Family Drama Amidst Grand Themes

More than just a futuristic exploration of biotech, Foreverland is a deeply personal story about family, love, and the human desire for control. By focusing on the intimate lives of its characters, the play invites audiences to grapple with ideological questions that feel both thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. Through intimate dialogues and emotionally charged moments, Hemingford’s characters embody the tension between wanting to seize control of one’s destiny and accepting the natural cycle of life and death.

With its compelling cast and an imaginative, provocative narrative, Foreverland is set to be one of the most talked-about premieres of the season. Audiences can expect to be captivated by this bold exploration of the human condition and the lengths we might go to secure a future that seems forever out of reach.

Foreverland runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 2nd – 19th October 2024. Be sure to catch this world premiere and experience the future of theatre and biotechnology collide in a powerful story of love, loss, and the pursuit of immortality.