Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is kneeling on the floor next to a black mat with his arms out facing up to the sky. There is a low, long platform at the back with folded clothes on the edge. The back wall is full of galaxy-like projections. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Bristol Theatre News

Featured Show: Last Rites at Bristol Old Vic

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Non-verbal show for deaf, Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing audiences comes to King Street theatre

A piece of theatre exploring grief and fatherhood comes to Bristol Old Vic this July. It tells the story of Arjun, who must travel to India from the UK to perform his father’s Hindu funeral rites.

Arjun is Deaf. His father never learnt sign language – an issue that created a language barrier between them. Somehow, Arjun must find a way to say goodbye in the final ceremony.

As well as grief, Arjun has also become a father himself, experiencing both the Joys and challenges this presents.

The story ultimately celebrates the transformative power of grief and parenthood.

Last Rites has been co-devised by Director George Mann and Ramesh Meyyappan – a theatre maker and Deaf artist.

It’s a non-verbal show told through physical storytelling, projection and a bass-heavy visceral soundscape.

The show integrates BSL with creative captions, making it accessible for deaf, Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing audiences.

Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is stood up sideways with his left arm out blocking his eyes and his right arm out to the side with fingers pointing down. His mouth is wide open. The background is projected with a red and orange explosion. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is sitting facing forward, crossed leg on a black mat with his palms together beneath his chin. The back wall has a projection of a large shadow shape with a ball of colours surrounding it. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is sitting facing forward, crossed leg on platform with his hands creating two circles in front of his mouth and his lips are pursed. On the right edge of the platform are folded clothes and on the floor in front is a silver bowl. The back wall and floor has projections of various yellow and white circle outlines with jagged, wavy lines. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is stood up facing the left towards his left hand which is held in front of his face with curved fingers. The back wall is full of galaxy-like projections. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is stood up on a black platform facing the sky with his palms together beneath his chin. The platform has yellow lines projected across it and in the background a cloud of purple haze. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is stood up facing forward with left hand, with fingers spread out by his face and his right hand over the centre of his chest. He has raised eyebrows and an open mouth. The back wall has a light blue speckled projection. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is lying on a black mat, with his head and torso lifted forwards and his legs on the floor. His left arm is beside him on the floor with fingers stretched out. The back wall is dark with thousands of tiny white lights projected. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan in a white shirt and grey trousers. Ramesh is kneeling on the floor next to a black mat with his arms out facing up to the sky. There is a low, long platform at the back with folded clothes on the edge. The back wall is full of galaxy-like projections. Photo taken by Mihaela Bodlovic.
Photography by Mihaela Bodlovic


Bristol-based theatre company Ad Infinitum, has produced the show, which will being heading to the Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Fringe this August.

Bristol has a “strong” Deaf community, George Mann and Ramesh Meyyappan said, describing it as “incredibly supportive” during the creative process of putting the show together.

“Bringing Last Rites, a universal story told through the eyes of a Deaf man, to Bristol Old Vic – one of the most prestigious regional main stages in the UK – feels really special,” they said.

“We both love Bristol and share a connection to this wonderful community; it’s exciting and means such a lot to us to have the chance to tour our work here.”

Last Rites will be at Bristol Old Vic from 15 – 19 July 2025

After the performance on Friday 18 July, Ramesh Meyyappan will be joined in a post-show discussion by Bristol theatremaker and Deaf artist David Ellington, who has also made a short film of the creation process behind Last Rites. The event will be in BSL and translated by BSL interpreters into spoken English. 

For more information or to book, visit: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/last-rites

Cast and Creatives
Performer Ramesh Meyyappan

Director George Mann
Co-creators Ramesh Meyyappan and George Mann  
Sound designer and composer Akintayo Akinbode  
Set and costume designer Katie Sykes
Lighting designer Ali Hunter                                      
Video and projection designer Christopher Harrisson
Production manager Ed Borgnis   
Stage manager Hannah Clare  Technical Stage Manager Chaz Webb  
Rehearsal and Tour Support BSL (British Sign Language) Interpreter Pascale Maroney 

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