Review: Right before I go
📍 Soho Theatre - Soho
🗓️ 9th September 2026
🎟️ PR Invite
Content warning: Right before I go deals heavily with suicide, suicide attempts and grief, which are also discussed in this review.
After its recent run at Edinburgh Fringe, Right before I go has come to London for a limited run this week. With September being Suicide Awareness Month, there couldn’t be a more important time for a show like this.
Written by Stan Zimmerman (writer of Golden Girls and Gilmore Girls) and directed by Abigail Morris (Kindertransport, Colder Than Here), Right before I go is a raw and emotional play that truly stayed with me long after I left the theatre. Drawing on Zimmerman’s own personal experience after losing a close friend to suicide, he tells his incredibly emotional story of finding out about the death of Kevin Gill, coming to terms with the news, and what he learned through this journey.
After learning that Kevin had left a note to a small number of close friends, Zimmerman went down a rabbit hole of searching online for suicide notes and trying to understand the various reasons someone may decide they no longer want to live their life. From stories of abuse, bullying, war veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, well-known artists and people of various ages, it’s unfortunately a situation that can affect anyone… at any time.
With Zimmerman telling his own story, he is accompanied by four actors (a rotating cast for the London run) who read out the suicide notes from the various examples he has found. The cast for this performance were Claire-Marie Hall, Jessica Lia Berry, Paul Bigley and Tosh Wanogho-Maud, who all delivered these stories with incredible care and compassion, allowing the audience to process the words being delivered. Photographs of each person are projected onto the wall behind them, reminding us that these are all, in fact, real people, from different backgrounds, each with their own reasons.
There’s no set, and each actor reads from a script, making this feel less like a traditional play and more like a sharing of very real stories. It allows the words being spoken to take centre stage without distraction, putting the focus completely on the stories being told. Eye-opening facts and statistics are also shared throughout the piece, which truly make you realise just how many people are affected by suicide.
There’s something really well structured about the way Right before I go tells its story. Having Zimmerman’s own experience at the centre, alongside the stories of so many other people, works really well because it shows that there isn’t one reason someone may reach that point. Everyone has their own story, and the way these are brought together really shows just how different each person’s experience can be. The stripped-back approach also works perfectly, as there’s nothing to distract from the words being spoken and the emotion behind them.
The pure emotion Zimmerman brings while recounting what his friend meant to him, and sharing his thoughts and feelings following the devastating news, is delivered with such rawness that it really hits the audience. It’s a very real and personal story that makes you consider what could lead someone to feel like they no longer want to live, while the other stories shared throughout the piece show just how different those reasons can be. It’s a difficult and emotional watch, but there are also moments of natural humour mixed throughout, which help to break up some of the heavier moments and stop the piece from becoming too overwhelming, while allowing a little light relief.
While the subject matter is heavy, the performance ends on a much lighter note, with the stories of those who survived showing that there is hope and that things can get better with the right support. After the bows, Zimmerman invites director Abigail Morris down to join him and the pair invite the audience to ask questions or share their own story. We also learn that there are professionals in the room available to offer advice and share their own thoughts.
A question is posed: how many of you have been affected by suicide? With the majority of the room putting their hands up, the fact that so many people have been affected is eye-opening, yet somehow it’s still not a topic openly spoken about enough. There’s a real feeling of comfort and support in the room, with everyone invited to join them in the bar after the performance to talk one-on-one if needed. After such a heavy and emotional experience, which may bring up thoughts of people you’ve lost to suicide or even your own struggles, having that support available straight away is a really great option to have. It’s something that I think should really be applauded, as you’re not simply left to walk away and process everything on your own. There’s a real sense of hope closing out the performance, with a reminder that there are many options of support out there and that the shame a person may feel around opening up is sadly normal, but shouldn’t be the reason they don’t get help.
Overall, Right before I go is a beautiful piece that really stays with you. It’s difficult to watch at times, but there’s also a real sense of hope by the end. Seeing so many people in the room put their hands up when asked if they had been affected by suicide really showed just how important it is to have conversations like this. It’s not an easy subject, but Right before I go creates a space where people can talk about it openly, and I think that’s incredibly important.
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If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes discussed in this review or Right before I go, support is available.
As an Irish person living in the UK, I’ve included support information for both countries.
UK & Ireland:
Samaritans: 116 123
UK:
CALM: 0800 58 58 58
NHS: 111
Republic of Ireland:
Pieta: 1800 247 247
Text About It: Text HELLO to 50808
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, please call 999 or 112.
