More Life
Review by Jude
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A futuristic Frankenstein-like story: More Life is open at the Royal Court Theatre. Specifically playing in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, More Life by Lauren Mooney & James Yeatman is a haunting piece on the boundaries between life and death and what it truly means to be human.
The play follows Bridget, who died in a car accident fifty years ago. Now, in 2075, she has been resurrected in a synthetic body. While her mind and consciousness remain intact, she inhabits an entirely new form. Is she still her? What became of everyone she knew and the world? Are they still alive, or have they evolved into something different?
What makes More Life so chilling is how plausible it feels. With rapid technological advancements and ongoing debates about privacy and data, the play presents a narrative that seems eerily within reach. It’s thought-provoking: if given the choice, would we outsmart death? And at what cost?
Each cast member fully embodies their character, shining in individual moments while seamlessly transitioning into multifunctional narrators during the play’s more abstract sequences. Surprisingly, the script also allows for moments of lightheartedness, offering the audience brief reprieves with well-placed humor and laughter amid the existential weight of the story.
The simple yet effective set by Shankho Chaudhuri, combined with the striking lighting design of Ryan Joseph Stafford, seamlessly transports the audience to the laboratory where this miracle science unfolds, as well as to the outside world—one that feels not so distant from our own, once again reinforcing the play’s eerie plausibility.
It is transfixing, sophisticated, and profound work. As Bridget pieces together her past and contemplates the person she wishes to become, the play masterfully explores identity, autonomy, and the very will to live—keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. While I left the theatre with lingering questions about certain aspects of the text, it was not due to any shortcomings, but rather a testament to its depth—inviting further analysis and interpretation. That intellectual challenge is both welcome and rewarding.