True Life Productions’ debut show Continuity(7), written by David Sear and directed by Rosina Piovani, unfolds like an episode of Black Mirror. Sear’s ambitious script covers a huge range of topics, from capitalism to religion, mortality to Taylor Swift, to provoke audiences to challenge their perspectives and consider the question “would you want to live forever?” or more
importantly “should you live forever?”.

The show follows Stevie (Martin Maynard), who later becomes Patient 7, a proud man paralysed from the waist down by an unfortunate car accident as he battles his new life with a spinal injury. Supported, or not, by his family, he has reached the limit of what the medical system can offer him to give him his quality of life back. Enter The Billionaire. Y, played by Christian Burton, offers Stevie the chance to tempt fate with a new and revolutionary cure. The price? Financially, free.
Although the bill is definitely paid in full through other means.
Patient 7 is joined by The Child (Reece Bond), The Partner (Catherine Walston), and The Parent (Geraldine Hindley). Patient 7’s family all have differing opinions on his choices and
provide their perspectives on life, death, and Patient 7’s attitude throughout the show.

The Doctor (Michael Flintoff) is the spineless counterpart of The Billionaire. They go along with The Billionaire’s plan, aware of its unethical nature but powerless to resist, lest they lose their research funding. You can’t stop the inevitable march of progress, so why not be part of it? The final piece in this puzzle is The Zealot (Iain Mahony), who adds a religious aspect to the play, and a touch of chaos to complete the seven ensemble characters.

The seven each represent a different and extreme perspective on life and society. All except for Patient 7 who acts as a pendulum swinging between each viewpoint, also represented in the staging and direction by Piovani. The majority of the action takes place in the centre of six chairs placed facing out in a circle, one for each of the characters, with Patient 7 stuck in the middle for the majority of the play. This smaller working space creates a sense of claustrophobia and a feeling of being trapped. Trapped in the decision that Patient 7 feels forced to make. Or trapped by the fact that his life is so finite, which he finds out later maybe isn’t such a bad thing compared to the other option. Eerie sound effects by Jamie Rycroft and tight clinical lighting by Anna Menzel also add to this atmosphere.

Maynard, as Patient 7: Stevie, carries a seething rage and desperation throughout, sympathetically portraying a man at the end of his rope. Maynard carries the show, bombarded
by the opinions of others on his choices and having to navigate the severe and bizarre consequences of them.

Walston, as The partner: Alex, is Patient 7’s skeptical spouse. Walston convincingly taps into the psyche of someone who has done all they can to support the person they love, with no
return. As the pillar of the household, holding everyone and everything together, Walston is strong and restrained with a clear underlying hurt in seeing her partner refusing to accept their injury and move on with their life.

Bond, as The Child: Dylan, is a simmering pot. A teen who longs for his family to be as it once was, and the disdain for his father’s attitude is clear. Bond plays this yearning wonderfully with a playful transition into his youth in a flashback, giving us a taste of what could have been in stark contrast with his older, jaded, self.

Hindley, as The Parent: Lesley was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise heavy play. An adventurous daredevil who is committed to living her life to the fullest, Hindley was a comforting presence on stage providing a death-positive perspective on Patient 7’s conundrum. Hindley
was also the only character to wear bright colours, indicating her sunny disposition from the offset.

Flintoff, as The Doctor: Cameron, was a joy to watch. He carried a lot of the comedy elements of the play while seamlessly delivering some of the more shocking revelations with a delightful level of apathy.

Mahony, as The Zealot: Morgan, a deeply troubled man driven mad by the weight he feels on his shoulders as he watches society’s descent into sin, helpless to stop it. We are a little wary of The Zealot and his purpose to start with, however Mahony gave a stellar performance opening up the audience to the vulnerability of his character. A very emotional performance.

Last but not least is Burton, as The Billionaire: Y. Burton is charismatic, larger than life, and sure to make audiences hate his character with every fibre of their being. Burton is a driving force in this production. Smarmy and consistently unyielding in his ambitions to change the world and invoice everyone else for the cost, Burton fully commits to the character’s objectives.

True Life Productions’ Continuity(7) is that one friend that loves a debate; they are passionate, a little preachy, and relentless in their desire to talk through every point to death. Some aspects of the script can feel a little clunky and repetitive, however the topics discussed deserve a spotlight, especially in our own rapidly spiralling political and social climate, and the acting
performances are top notch. You’ll be talking about it for hours afterwards. So go and check it out for yourself, and come up with your own conclusions. Or let the billionaires decide for you.