The Obituary
by Xinyu Lu
Memory. Home. Rage.
Three siblings return to their old family house before it is demolished, with one hour to complete a property report. What begins as paperwork becomes a fight over memory, migration, and who gets to decide what a family is worth.
As they sort through decades of belongings, resentments, and conflicting memories, it becomes clear that they have not only inherited the same house, but entirely different ideas of home.
Using one East Asian family story to reflect wider experiences of migration and cross-cultural identity, The Obituary is a sharp and tender new play about inheritance, belonging, and what remains when the people you love no longer share the same understanding of where they come from.
At its heart, The Obituary asks a simple but difficult question: if home can no longer hold a family together, what can?
SE Fest 2026 Production
Press for previous productions
‘What a fab fun show! A fabulous performance from the cast and a great script make for a brilliant evening!’ Theatre Reviews on Jo And Sam Find Themselves In Woking
‘The charm, warmth and chemistry between the actors themselves under the expert direction of Katherine Reilly makes the whole thing an utterly beguiling delight.’ The Peg on Jo And Sam Find Themselves In Woking
‘An altogether admirable hour of theatre, both inspirational and engaging.’ London Pub Theatres on Empty in Angel
‘Informative, entertaining and awesome… A must see! Thrifty Theatre on Empty in Angel
‘This quirky new show is a joy to watch. The actors’ presence and chemistry is delightful and the ending really puts a smile on your face.’ Theatre and Other Things on Jo And Sam Find Themselves In Woking
‘An array of characters all nimbly and brilliantly played… The script is clever and fast-paced with flashes of razor-sharp comedy.’ Camden New Journal on Empty in Angel
Dates and Tickets
Tuesday 8 – Wednesday 9 September at 7.30 pm, Jack Studio Theatre
Thursday 10 September at 7.30pm, Bridge House Theatre
Tickets: £16, £14 conc; suitable for 12+.
Online: Click here
There is no charge for online bookings.
Phone: 0333 666 3366
Telephone reservations have a £1.80 booking fee.
Our concessionary price tickets are for: full-time students, over 65s, registered unwaged, under 18s and Equity Members. Please bring proof of status.
Running time: 60 minutes, with no interval
Creative Team
The Obituary
by Xinyu Lu
Co-Producer: Wangjiayu Chu (Stephanie)
Co-Producer: Ti Ti
Playwright: Xinyu Lu
Director: Miranda 杨知君
Set & Costume Designer: Naomi(Ruizhi) Zhang
Sound Designer: Vincci Chung
Music Director: Yihan Wang
Light Designer: Yuqing Wang
Stage Manager: Martha Ma
Marketing Assistant: Alice Zou
Presented by Nomereach Theatre
Cast
Cast:
Kevin Ip as Lim
Chen Xu as Vanessa Lim / Lan Lim
Yijia Gong as Ethan Lim
Your Visit
The box office on-site opens at 7.15 pm for the checking-in of pre-booked tickets, to seat you early and to minimise queues. Please arrive in good time to be seated for the 7.30 pm start.
LATECOMERS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED
Food and drinks are served at the Brockley Jack pub. If you wish to book a table, please visit their website
There is strictly no photography or recording of any kind permitted in the theatre.
For more details on travelling to the venue and accessibility please see our Your Visit page
The Brockley Jack Theatre Ltd
Principal Sponsor
Support the Jack Studio Theatre
