Miss Myrtle's Garden | Bush Theatre

Miss Myrtle's Garden, which is written by Danny James King and directed by Taio Lawson, is a moving, powerful and thoughtful play about the effects of dementia and the ripple effect this has on loved ones. The play, although tremendously emotional and even an ultimate tear-jerker, is full of humour, charm, love and warmth that draws the audience into its embrace. 

Miss Myrtle (Diveen Henry) spends her days in her garden, admiring the plants from afar due to her bad knee, in the company of her late husband Melrose (Mensah Bediako). However, when her grandson Rudy (Michael Ahomka-Lindsay) and his "roommate" Jason (Elander Moore) move into the top floor, and neighbour and old friend Eddie (Gary Lilburn) becomes her gardener, the calm waves come crashing down as her secrets unfold. Young Rudy, desperately seeking a familial connection, is thrown into the deep end, as Miss Myrtle confronts a truth that's been largely ignored until now. 

King brings a solid foundation with a script that's truly to be admired, stripped back without any additional flair. The storytelling grows naturally with several subtle subplots sneaking through, creating an intricate web of lives, relationships and worries. Each character is given a distinctive voice, that neatly balances, compliments and clashes with the others, creating a messy backdrop of authentic human relationships that anchor the piece in place. Myrtle's dementia and its effect on the lives of the others around her, most notably Rudy and Eddie, are handled with maturity and sensitivity, careful to never dramatise her condition. These effects in turn create their own issues, which spring to the foreground, creating an equally tragic story that emerges in the relationship between Rudy and Jason. The play, takes on a number of heavy topics, without diluting the substance of each topic, and without overwhelming the play. King has created a play that nestles as a seed in the audience's mind, watering it with incredible performances, until it's a deeply rooted piece of stunning theatre. 

Bediako as Melrose brings a steady gravitas to the piece, despite being an eerie presence that haunts the piece throughout. Bediako renders a performance that springs life into the character, creating some of the play's sweetest moments of calm and peace, whilst also bringing out the guilt and inner suffering. Lilburn is impressive as the Irish neighbour Eddie, especially in moments of strangled pain wherein he himself struggles to keep afloat despite being Myrtle's lifeline. Lilburn's easy going charm, Irish tendency to be plastered and give inspiring, understanding and rousing speeches, add aplenty to the already strong performance. 

Moore is a refreshing addition to the play, with his much younger and modern beliefs that contradict and test the patience of other characters. Often clashing with Myrtle and Rudy, the shift in ideals and lifestyles adds a wonderful subtle glance at multi-generational households and the interweaving of individual and community identity. Loud and proud Jason (shoutout to costume designer, Khadija Raza for the "protect the dolls" t-shirt), stands on the brink of freedom in a new world, yet also provides the perplexity of a world that's rapidly ever-changing, and how the younger generation are getting lost in this unstable climate. Moore handles the comedic banter with Henry's Myrtle as well as the intense chemistry with Ahomka-Lindsay's Rudy with one of the strongest performances of the show.

Ahomka-Lindsay as Rudy delivers a mighty performance that hangs over the entire show. Torn between two worlds, two identities, two lives, Rudy becomes a character who is fading fast. Struggling to be perfect and hold it together, the cracks in the character are never given the time or space to heal, leaving a broken man behind. Splinters of joy, hope and serenity are glimpsed during scenes between Rudy and Jason, yet it's the unforgiving reality of dementia that ultimately steals away this hope. Ahomka-Lindsay, who's proven himself to be a capable actor time and time again, absolutely shines in this production as he takes on a multitude of emotions, unintentionally placing himself at the centre of the piece. Grasping at straws to fix everything, Rudy's downward spiral, desperation, whiplash emotional range and ultimately the play's biggest gut-punch of a moment makes Ahomka-Lindsay's performance a standout. 

Henry delivers a fantastic performance that feels so natural, that one may be concerned for her wellbeing after the show is over. Strict but loving, hardened yet loving, fierce yet funny, Henry brings out every nuance of the character, creating an irresistible charm. Every line of dialogue is expertly delivered and has the audience audibly reacting, whether it be solemn sighs, shocked gasps or loud laughter, Henry carries the show. It's for this reason that the slow dementia feels so painful, for her refusal to let her dignity slip even when her beloved memories fade, makes the play an unmissable and incredible piece. 

Lawson's direction ensures that the performances feel rooted in reality and are quite grounded, especially given the sheer number of complications and additional issues that the characters are facing. Lawson's direction brings out the natural intelligence of King's script, and the actors embody this well, making for an exceptional cast of five. 

Set in Miss Myrtle's Garden, the stage is a small circle of garden, with real plants planted on either side and patio furniture. Designed by Raza, the set is immediately captivating, and the characters being both free and trapped in the small space by the nature of the medium of theatre and the audience make for an interesting watch. The set and cast are visible from all four sides, making great use of the theatre's layout. Joshua Gadsby and Dan Balfour (lighting and sound designer) work together to create a sensory story that enhances the production, almost immersing the audience into the same overload that the characters are facing. With high pitched frequencies, blackouts and pleasing ripples of lights, audiences are brought wholly into Myrtle's world. 

Miss Myrtle's Garden is an excellent play that forms an emotional rollercoaster, as the characters are forced to face their fears and taste failure... all whilst providing hope and strength in loved ones. The play is unafraid to tackle the hard truth, which makes it such a powerful piece, made even more moving for the cast and production.

Miss Myrtle's Garden is playing at Bush Theatre until 12th July 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Camilla Greenwell