Interview: This ‘Unmissable!’ show’s UK Tour.
Ad Infinitum reflect on the journey of their five-star show as it embarks on a nationwide UK tour.
ET saw the premiere of Ad Infinitum’s Last Rites in 2024 at the Shoreditch Town Hall, when we gavce it a glowing five-star “Unmissable!” review. Now, it’s embarking on an extensive UK tour, bringing its powerful exploration of grief, parenthood, and generational legacies to audiences nationwide.
Co-created by George Mann and Ramesh Meyyappan, this non-verbal, visually stunning production has already set the bar high with its seamless integration of Deaf and hearing theatre-making practices, breathtaking physicality, and emotionally resonant storytelling.
We caught up with George and Ramesh to discuss the inspiration behind Last Rites, the challenges of its creation, and what audiences can expect as the show continues its UK tour.
A warm welcome back to Ad Infinitum! Please introduce yourselves to our readers.
GM: Hi there, I’m George Mann, director and co-creator of Last Rites, now on tour in the UK, and I’m the co-artistic director of Ad Infinitum.
RM: Hi, I’m Ramesh Meyyappan. I’m the co-creator and performer of Last Rites. I’m a Scottish-Singaporean artist and theatre maker.
Where are you taking the show, and why those venues?
We’re touring Last Rites to various theatres across the UK from January 15th to the end of July 2025. Why? Because we love theatre and touring! But more importantly, we want to share this unique perspective on a universal story with audiences nationwide.
Last Rites is a celebration of the transformative power of grief and parenthood. It’s a non-verbal solo show told from a Deaf man’s perspective, exploring the poignant story of a complex relationship cut short. It delves into themes of losing our parents and becoming parents—experiences many of us can relate to.
We’re especially proud to bring this piece to mid-scale venues, giving voice to historically underrepresented perspectives like that of our protagonist, Arjun.
What can audiences expect from Last Rites?
GM: Audiences can expect an incredible physical performance. Ramesh is one of the best movers I’ve ever worked with, and his performance is utterly beautiful, funny, and moving. The story is captivating, emotionally resonant, and often funny—it’s definitely one to bring tissues for.
The production is a stunning visual and sonic experience. With a minimalist set that transforms through lighting, projections, and creative captions, the show is designed to be fully accessible to Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences. The soundtrack is both spine-tingling and immersive, engaging all the senses.
What inspired the creation of this show?
GM: The loss of our fathers was a major inspiration, as was becoming fathers ourselves. Both are life-changing, emotional experiences that shaped us and this piece. One of the challenges was drawing on those deeply personal experiences without making the work feel too private or inaccessible. We wanted to shape a powerful story that resonates universally, and to do that, we relied on a rigorous creative process, including feedback from outside eyes and dramaturgs.
RM: George and I talked a lot about our fathers—what it means to have one, what we inherit from them, and how that influences how we parent our own children. Reflecting on this helped us understand what we want to pass on and what we don’t.
GM: The play explores that tension: being compassionate toward our parents and understanding their choices while recognizing what we want to do differently. That push and pull between generations is central to Last Rites.
George, how long have you been working on this play?
GM: I met Ramesh nearly 15 years ago at the Edinburgh Festival, and after seeing each other’s work, we vowed to collaborate someday. We finally began exploring ideas during the pandemic in 2020, meeting both online and in person for R&D sessions.
After two years of development and 11 weeks of intensive creation, the show premiered in January 2024 at Shoreditch Town Hall as part of the London International Mime Festival and the Manipulate Festival in Edinburgh. The success of the premiere allowed us to plan this exciting tour.
Ramesh, what’s been the most enjoyable part of playing your role?
RM: I play multiple characters, and I embrace all of them—they’re essential to the story. Transitioning between characters has been fascinating, as we’ve developed creative ways to define their physicality and individuality.
And the most challenging part?
RM: It’s been a big challenge. Each character requires distinct physical traits, and I even portray a dead body. Figuring out how to physically represent that role and transition into and out of it was tough.
Balancing the physicality and emotional depth needed for all the characters is exhausting, but it’s also deeply rewarding.
Are there any venues on the tour you’re particularly excited about?
GM: Definitely! We’re currently at Derby Theatre, which is exciting because we’ve built a strong relationship with the team there, and for the first time, we’ll be performing in their main house.
I’m also thrilled to be returning to The Lowry in Salford, where we were Associate Artists in the past. And, of course, performing at the Bristol Old Vic in July is going to be incredible—it’s Ad Infinitum’s home town, and sharing this show on such a prestigious stage will be a dream come true.
What’s next for Last Rites and Ad Infinitum?
GM: We have some exciting plans for the show that we can’t announce just yet—stay tuned! For Ad Infinitum, we’re preparing for some R&D periods with our Associate Artist and Associate Director this spring, which I’m really looking forward to.
RM: I’m moving on to another exciting project, but like George said, I can’t reveal anything yet. Watch this space!
What’s the best career advice you’ve received, and how has it influenced your work on Last Rites?
RM: It’s not advice but experience that’s shaped me the most. Living and working in different cultures, engaging with Deaf and hearing communities, and moving between Asia and the West have given me a breadth of knowledge that no single piece of advice could.
GM: Same here. Experience, especially failure—or what feels like failure—has been my best teacher. My advice is: don’t be afraid to fuck up! Failure can be painful, but it’s essential for growth. That’s how you learn, improve, and move forward.
Thank you to George and Ramesh for speaking to us, we wish you every success on your UK Tour.
NORTH WALL ARTS CENTRE, OXFORD: Wednesday 15 – Friday 17 January 2025 | 7.30pm
Post-show discussion Thursday 16 January BOOK TICKETS HERE
DERBY THEATRE, DERBY: Thursday 23 – Friday 24 January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
ROYAL & DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON: 28 – 29 January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
OLIVIER THEATRE, BEDALES, HAMPSHIRE: 30th January 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
CORN EXCHANGE, NEWBURY: 4 – 5 February 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH: 8 February 2025 | 7.45pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
NEW WOLSEY THEATRE, IPSWICH: 13 – 15 February 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE
THE LOWRY, QUAYS THEATRE, SALFORD: Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 February 2025 | 8pm
Post-show discussion Wednesday 19 February BOOK TICKETS HERE
BRISTOL OLD VIC, BRISTOL: Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 July 2025 | 7.30pm BOOK TICKETS HERE