What's On Special: DEADHEAD
“In this life, we often have a choice between truth and comfort. There’s no shame in comfort.” Through the wonders of neural-reanimation, clients can pay a not so small fee, to visit the recently deceased for a limited window of time. A second chance at a last goodbye. Deadhead is an original anthology play- presenting a series of dark, wacky tales set within the infamous commercial establishment Memento Mori. 4
Deadhead is Written and directed by Jason Kelly, and features a live three piece band, with music composed by Max Lozowsky. Come and witness the final moments of lovers, liars, and a glue-sniffing celebrity chocolatier.
Age recommendation: 18 and older.
Your father invites you over to play a game of chess. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE you think to yourself in quiet resentment.
You don’t need him anymore. Or his stupid games. You’re an adult now and have children of your own to neglect. The following day you receive a phone call at 11:23 am. Your father’s body has been discovered, hunched over a chessboard, clutching a photograph of you, his only child.
Oh dear. This was not the plan.
Memento Mori has your back. Our team of expert mortician-technicians provide the finest neurological reanimation in the country. We tailor our service to your needs, and more importantly your budget. Don’t miss a second chance at a last goodbye. Now, how about that game…?’
Can the machiavellian mourners of Deadhead transcend their petty and irrational natures when seeing off their loved one’s for the final time?... No. Deadhead is a dark comedy anthology, exploring the commodification of a scientific miracle… or the desecration of the sacred depending on your perspective. As the cliche goes, in life only ‘Death’ and ‘Taxes’ are certain. Memento Mori don’t pay their taxes.
This is a co-production between Idiot Brain Productions, and Likeminded Productions. Idiot Brain Productions was established in 2024, with the aim of bringing original work to Liverpool and beyond.
"Our name derives from our mission to sit on the fence between deep and dumb in storytelling. As humans we’re all trying to make sense of the world from a position of knowing almost nothing. A good story can bring perspective through portraying the darkest of situations with a pinch of levity”.
Likeminded Productions was established in 2016. They are a Liverpool based production company bringing modern performance to the stage and screen alongside groundbreaking podcasts and publications.
Artistic Director Christopher Woodward explains on working alongside Idiot Brain to bring DeadHead to the stage.
“I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Jason before, and his unique vision and work ethic truly stand out. Working with creatives like him, who bring such passion to the table, makes the entire process enjoyable. "Deadhead" is a truly unique play, and I'm thrilled to bring it to the stage with an incredible cast and team.”
The casting call attracted a huge volume of applicants requiring three separate days of auditions. We were blown away with the talent Liverpool has to offer, making our job very difficult (in the best way possible). Our cast includes Liverpool's finest upcoming (and arrived) talent. We are in awe of their nuanced performance, dedication, and passion in bringing to life their respective characters.
Jason Kelly is a writer, director, actor and artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is his second play, following on from Antithesis which was performed at the Makin’ Theatre festival in 2019. He has recently performed in a one man play, Our House is Condemned by George Fragakis; as part of Young Director’s Festival at the Everyman Theatre. He is also the resident artist at the Liverpool Improvisation festival held at the Unity theatre in April 2024. The assistant director of the project is Caroline McHale.
Caroline is a North West based director and acting graduate from LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts). Recently, she was a part of the Young Director’s Festival at the Everyman Theatre where she staged a production of X by Alistair McDowall. Her other recent credits include When Mourning Came (Unity Theatre) and Nympho (Edinburgh Fringe Festival & Camden People’s Theatre). Her biggest inspiration as a creative comes from her love of all things horror and she sprinkles a little bit of spook in every project she undertakes.
Designing our set is Christopher McCourt, an innovative and creative designer based in the Northwest. He graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2020 with a first class Honors and is delighted to be designing the set for ‘Dead Head’. Christopher has previously worked with a number of companies such as The Lowry for the National Theatre Connections Festival and spent some time out in Greece as part of the Athens and Epidaurus festival. He has also worked on a number of the Royal Courts main house shows as a designer and scenic artist.
Most recently he designed ‘Come Together’ at Liverpool's Royal Court. The Music and Sound Design for the play has been composed by Max Lozowsky.
Deadhead marks Max’s theatrical composition debut. Max is a multi-instrumentalist from Belfast who has been living in Liverpool since attaining his music degree in 2018. He has an eclectic range of musical influences ranging from classical to rock to jazz and electronica, which he is excited to bring to the score of Deadhead. A versatile musician, Max has held residencies around Liverpool playing guitar with his band The Left Backs (currently The Cavern and Shenanigans), performed to Delottie, Fintech and Universal Music Group Senior Presidents with his comedy beatbox act “Felipe Thon Phlop”, and currently plays ukulele as a cruise ship guest entertainer with the international Liverpool ukulele band “Ukebox”.
Max will be joined by two excellent musicians; Anthony Mann (drums) RNCM graduate and percussionist of Foden’s Brass Band (#1 ranked in the world), and Andrew Wileman, keyboardist and composer of the Liverpool jazz trio Bop Kaballa. With rehearsals well under way, the cast and crew are incredibly excited to bring Deadhead to the stage in May. Deadhead will debut with a limited run at Hope Street Theatre in Liverpool from 2nd-4th May 2024.
Cast List
George Fragakis as Chocolatier
Cellan Scott as Doctor
Lizzy Wilde as Deb
Joe Owens as Paul
Lily Almond as Elle
Callum Heeley as Grandson
Jackie Gorst as Nan
Jamie Pye as Roman
Daniel McGregor as REDACTED
Lorna Jane as Mary
Dom Quinn as Ron