The official first week of Laughing Boy. Tonight the play will be reviewed by theatre critics. I’m ambivalent about the reviews. The play is political to its core. It’s being performed against an unfolding backdrop of the further brutalisation of disabled people and proposals for (selective) ‘voucher lives’. It’s likely, at least possible, the glimpses of family life portrayed will be unfamiliar to critics and it’s impossible to know how it will land. At the same time, I hope they are as blown away as numerous other audience members have been by love, humanity and righteous anger.

Meanwhile, the layers of care and love at Jermyn Street continue. The willingness of staff (a tiny team) to make sure people are comfortable, help with ticket mix ups (gulp) and answer questions. The visual story to familiarise people with the approach to the theatre and setting. The Spotify playlist of Connor’s favourite songs in the background as people take their seats. The quilt displayed at the church next door for the London run (and then in the Theatre Royal, Bath).

We went to the first preview on Thursday night. Tears, sadness and laughter. A friend messaged yesterday ‘And I did cry all the way through, but as 80 others were doing the same thing I didn’t feel alone.’

The seven (yes, only seven) extraordinary actors are a family, and their love for each other shines in stark contrast to the absurdity and inhumanity of the public sector response to the unthinkable. The behind the scenes work of the creative team has generated an astonishing and breathtaking visual and audio feast.

In a truly moving and hopefully never to be repeated moment, I was encouraged onto the stage during the standing ovation for a heartfelt tribute by Janie Dee. It is hard not to love this bunch.

Then an after show party in a pub around the corner. Joyfulness, chatter, play dissection, analysis, thought, thinking, more talk and laughter. Connor. Always Connor.

Randomly, we ended up in the early hours in a David Bowie pub. The boy still working his magic and the latest I’ve been to bed in yonks.

So break a leg tonight! Not sure there is anything you could do better which is really quite something. ♥️