LAMDA Directors’ Showcase: The Assistant
Venue: Theatre503
Date: 27–29/08/2025
Type: Theatre
When the end is a choice, how do you say goodbye? In this powerful new play, a couple stands at the edge of an unthinkable decision: one partner’s decision to end their life after a long struggle with illness. As the clock ticks down, they confront love, loss, autonomy, and the quiet weight of saying farewell. This intimate, often unexpectedly funny work explores the ethical, emotional, and financial complexities of euthanasia today, not just for the one choosing to go, but for those who must let them. With heart, humour, and searing honesty, this is a story about living bravely, loving fiercely, and facing the final act on your own terms. This play centers on a couple as they grapple with one partner’s decision to end their life after a long struggle with illness. As the moment of decision approaches, the play follows them and their relatives as they talk, reminisce, argue and laugh – grappling with questions about love, choice, ethics, money and what it means to truly love and care for someone. This intimate piece mixes raw honesty with moments of surprising humour. The tone is emotional and deeply human: it’s about the pain of letting go, the right to die with dignity, and the messy, tender, contradictory ways people love each other when everything is on the line. Ultimately, it’s a story about confronting mortality openly, choosing your own ending if you can, and about how those who remain must find a way to live with it. Amelia Shelmerdine is a director and producer, currently in training at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She has most recently assistant directed Playhouse Creatures at the Orange Tree Theatre, with previous credits including Metamorphoses (Director, Camden People’s Theatre), Metamorphoses (Director, The Courtyard Theatre), Port (Assistant Director, LAMDA), Metamorphoses (Assistant Director, LAMDA). She also produced “Undecided; A Musical Misadventure”, a musical cabaret at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe and directed, produced and choreographed over 20 productions including “Spring Awakening” “Anything Goes”and “The Tempest” whilst completing her undergraduate degree in history, politics and philosophy at Durham University. She is particularly interested decontextualising classics, contemporary writing, dance theatre and physical theatre. She is absolutely thrilled to be directing Rhys Bevan’s wonderful play The Assistant at Theatre 503. Running time: 60 minutes (no interval) Age guidance: 14+
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