Dan is cool, clever and smart. A talented, creative “lovely boy” with a passion for helping others who’s always on the side of the underdog. Everyone loves Dan and at 16, he has plans, plenty of them – just losing his life isn’t one of them.
I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die is the story of Dan, a popular South London schoolboy, who took ecstasy at an illegal rave and tragically died as a result. This fast-paced, powerful and emotionally-charged play, tells the true story of what happened to Dan, the choices he made and the impact on his family and friends – all told in their own words, from tragedy to redemption.
Mark Wheeller’s beautifully-written play and Octopus Dream’s acclaimed production will be touring to theatres across the country for the first time.
I Love You, Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die is a verbatim play told through the words of Daniel’s family and friends. The title of the play uses Dan’s last words to his mother before he left the house. After his death, Daniel’s parents set up The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation, a drugs education charity that works with young people, parents, carers and teachers. The play, commissioned by the charity, allows Dan’s story to be told by the people who loved him and knew him the best, his family and friends.
“We are delighted to be touring the full-length version of this powerful and emotional story,” says Elliot Montgomery, Octopus Dream Theatre Artistic Director. ‘It’s an important, honest and deeply touching human story of how our choices can have such a huge impact on ourselves and our loved ones.”
The tour is being supported by drug education charity The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation. Commenting on the play and support for the tour, the Director & Founder – and Dan’s mum – Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, said: “This is such an exciting development for us as a drug education charity, and also as Dan’s mum and dad. We commissioned Mark Wheeller to turn Dan’s story into a play as part of our passionate commitment when Dan died to prevent any harm happening to anyone else’s family from drugs. This first tour to theatres is taking the play to a whole new audience outside schools. We really hope this will mean families will come together and have conversations at home that help other teenagers keep themselves safe – but it’s also a beautiful play and a fantastic production, creating an opportunity for anyone who loves great theatre to experience it, and to get to know our Dan.”
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH. Dates: Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 June 2023 at 7.30pm
Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 fee for phone bookings only)Tickets: £17, £15 concessions (suitable for 14+)
Theatre website: www.brockleyjack.co.uk
Running time: 85 minutes with no interval
