DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS CONVERSATION at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre until 6 June 2026

'a window into the uniquely sensitive and devastating conversations and decisions that arise at the end of someone’s life' ★★★ ½ 

Despite its title, Do Not Attempt This Conversation shines a light on conversations that are both critical and unavoidable. Mo Maka’s debut play, informed by her own experience as an NHS doctor, is a window into the uniquely sensitive and devastating conversations and decisions that arise at the end of someone’s life. The play’s greatest success is its ability to represent these conversations with nuance, authenticity, and genuine empathy for all involved. 

Do Not Attempt This Conversation follows Dr. Nneka, played by Maka herself, an over-worked and under-supported resident doctor who must explain and defend a DNAR decision to a patient’s distraught granddaughter, desperate to save her grandfather's life by any means necessary. Both characters’ motivations are clear and sympathetic; over the course of the play’s tight 60 minutes, they each offer a wide range of relatable perspectives and insights, often contradictory. Thanks to Maka’s ability to pay equal respect to both characters, her dialogue breaks through surface level engagement with the decisions surrounding end of life care, and dives deeper into the influence of limited resources and the risk of personal bias in such decisions, while maintaining room for grief. Relatives attempting to over-rule doctors with medical advice from ChatGPT is infuriating and comical. At the same time, it’s a devastating reflection of the desperate human desire to control death. Maka’s script is also honest in its portrayal of the painful reality and improbability of extreme, potentially life-saving treatments, which do not resemble the deus ex machina cures in popular culture. 

Maka slips seamlessly into the role of Dr. Nneka, no doubt a result of her intimate knowledge of the script and the life of a doctor. Maka performs alongside Amaju Jade Samuel whose dry humor and commitment are nearly scene-stealing. Their performances carry the piece. Both actresses remain on stage for nearly the entire hour, locked into a single conversation that nonetheless provides a satisfying emotional arc and character development. The successful worldbuilding is particularly notable considering the lack of set or props, onstage. Maka and Samuel deliver their two-handed performance with nothing more than two chairs and a clipboard. 

Although these performances remain impressively engaging, the play would benefit from more dynamic blocking, action, and movement. The performance is weakest when it is its most static. The script itself is feeblest when grappling with the concept of forgiveness or considering the human capacity for change. In a piece that is otherwise thematically clear and concise, these provocations feel somewhat removed and underdeveloped. 

Despite minor flaws, Do Not Attempt This Conversation is a strong play from a first-time playwright. Its subject matter is universal, yet under-represented on-stage. Do Not Attempt This Conversation reminds us that even doctors cannot perform miracles - as much as we may want and need to believe they can - while also reminding us to empathise with the singular vulnerability and irrationality of grief. Audience members with and without personal history with DNAR conversations will undoubtedly connect with the raw emotion and the visceral fear of loss expressed by both characters. 

Do Not Attempt This Conversation is on at The Lion & Unicorn pub through the 6th of June, following runs at Edinburgh Fringe and Bread & Roses Theatre. 

Tickets are £15 available at https://www.thelionandunicorntheatre.com/whats-on. 

CONTENT ADVISORY:   Strong language; themes of a sexual nature; serious illness; end-of-life decision-making (DNAR); grief; death

WRITTEN BY: Mo Maka

DIRECTED BY:  Mo Maka

OTHER CREATIVES:  Amaju Jade Samuel

RUNNING TIME: 60 Mins (No Interval) 

SOCIAL MEDIA:  @mo_maka_01

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