Though AIR, the present production on at the Old 505 Theatre in Newtown, is written around the themes of death and grief there is much black comedy throughout the play to lighten the mood. The audience is absorbed in the different stories of how those who are dealing with the loss of loved ones cope and the consequences of these interactions on the central character Annabel.

The playwright Joanna Erskine uses a magical world within a realistic setting to cross the boundaries between the living and the dead. The inspiration for the play came from Erskine’s own experiences with death and grief and a small notice in a newspaper’s obituaries column, advertising a radio program that reads the death notices daily. The play is set in the community radio station 2RIP where Annabel, played with sincerity and ever changing emotions by Eloise Snape, wishes to be left alone in her grief as she reads the obituaries on the overnight shift.

However this is not to be, as her isolation is interrupted by a series of callers who ring to share their stories and even the dead want to interrupt and partake in the exchange. The callers include the shy, awkward John Dean, played by Tel Benjamin, who insists on sharing his story about his deceased father and wants more than just to share the story with Annabel. Then there is the live wire eccentric Mabel, played by Diana McLean, who is mourning the loss of Robbie, rather her recently deceased husband and Kevin, played by David Lynch, who has very different reasons for contacting Annabel. In addition, there is Annabel’s sister Susan, played by Suzanne Pereira, who wishes to disturb the status quo and bring their estranged family back together following the death of their father.

Anthony Skuse’s skilful direction ensures the characters’ stories meld together and the changes in Annabel’s thinking and atmosphere of the play develop and continually move forward. Relationships and reality swirl around in this poignant piece with clever quips to keep it from becoming mournful. A simple set and costume design by Kelsey Lee give the outline of a community radio station and the sound design by Benjamin Freeman and lighting design by Sophie Pekbilimli enhance the mood bringing the audience into this graveyard shift.

Let your mind accept the blurring of reality and go see this fascinating look into facing death, dealing with loss and looking forward in hope.

AIR is playing at the Old 505 Theatre, Eliza St Newtown [Facebook] until 30 June.