22 Jul 2025

Last Rites

How do you say goodbye when words were never there?

Event Details
Date 22 Jul 2025
Times 7.30pm
Location Loading Bay
Tickets £12 ↓
Ages 14+
Access
  • Wheelchair user access

A story of love. A story of loss. A story that transcends language.

Arjun’s father never learnt to sign, and now that he’s gone, Arjun must find his own way to honour him. In a world where ancient traditions meet modern reality, Arjun embarks on a deeply personal and visually mesmerising quest to create a farewell ritual for his father – one woven from memory, love, and loss.

Travel from the UK to India in Last Rites, a stunning fusion of visual storytelling, electrifying movement, and an immersive soundscape you can feel as well as hear. This is theatre like you’ve never experienced it before, rich with emotion, beauty, and innovation.

Tremendous”
The Guardian ★★★★
Last Rites Trailer

Created by internationally acclaimed theatre-makers Ramesh Meyyappan and George Mann, multi-award-winning Ad Infinitum’s (Translunar Paradise ★★★★★ The Observer, Light ★★★★★ The Times), Last Rites redefines what theatre can be.

A feast for the senses, designed for everyone. Featuring creative captions, Sign Language, and a deep, resonant soundtrack that can be felt or heard, Last Rites is truly for deaf, Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences alike.

A still image of a BSL interpreter.
Last Rites BSL e-Flyer
Mighty theatrical lyricism”
The Scotsman ★★★★

Content warning

  • This show contains occasional flashing video and lighting, loud music and heavy use of bass.
  • Last Rites contains themes of grief and death, parental abuse and trauma.

Artist Bio

Ad Infinitum is a multi-award-winning, internationally acclaimed theatre company based in Bristol. A diverse-led company dedicated to making accessible, inclusive and captivating theatre, for over 18 years Ad Infinitum has used its signature physical style to champion marginalised voices in theatre and reach underserved audiences.

Ad Infinitum is proud to be Associate Artists at The North Wall, and a member of the Cultural Governance Alliance (CGA); and an Associate Artist Alumni at Bristol Old Vic, Bush Theatre (2011-2013), The Lowry (2011-2017) and Redbridge Drama Centre (2009-2017).

Ramesh Meyyappan is an award-winning theatre maker who develops performances using an eclectic mix of visual and physical theatre styles. Over the years, his solo performances and collaborations have toured nationally and internationally to much critical acclaim. He has been commissioned to devise, write and direct plays for other companies internationally.

Visit Loading Bay

Loading Bay is a brand new pop-up arts venue in Bradford City Centre for Bradford 2025.

Join us on Duke Street as we bring a true Bradford 2025 buzz to the heart of the city.

Credits
Last Rites is made possible through funding from Arts Council England and Bristol City Council and co-commissioned by London International Mime Festival, Derby Theatre and Corn Exchange Newbury. This production is supported by Paul and Joanna Pearson.

Access

Join our access scheme to view access tickets or contact our Ticketing team for more information.
Sign up

Last Rites is a non-verbal piece of theatre with no spoken words that is accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences. The performance includes a soundtrack with heavy use of bass so that it can be felt or heard by audience members.

British Sign Language (BSL) integrated

This performance is British Sign Language (BSL) integrated. Performers are on stage and part of the action, signing using BSL.

A BSL interpreter will be present in the Front of House area before and after each performance to assist with queries, signposting, and communicating with venue staff.

Creative captions

This performance uses creative captions. Captions are part of the show!

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair spaces and essential companion tickets are available for this event.

Contact our Ticketing team on [email protected] or call 01274 053100 to book.
See our opening times.

Past event

Were you at this event?

Complete our feedback form and let us know what you thought.

Share your feedback

Related Events

Three children in Victorian dress wave red flags at a steam train, on a sunny day in West Yorkshire.

The Railway Children

The classic production heads to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

Young girl smiling across a table
FREE Part of Our Patch

The Story Garden – Summer Reading Challenge

Come to a creative making session with the Our Patch team in your local library and be an artist as well as a reader.

A young boy pulls another young boy who is sat in a makeshift cart across some grass
FREE Part of The Beacon

Play Bradford’s Mobile Adventure Playground

We’re teaming up with Play Bradford to bring mobile play to The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park.

A giant ball of colourful yarn with the Bradford skyline around the edge of it against a blue sky.
FREE

A Good Yarn

Luke Jerram & Bloomin' Buds

Get up close and personal with an extraordinary new artwork – made in BD10 from the fabric of Bradford.

Part of Loading Bay

Palingenesis

D_Antidote Production

A mesmerising exploration of life's cycles, intimacy, and transformation through dance.

Part of Loading Bay

How to Get Published

Discover what it takes to bring a book to life.

An illustration of an open story book with a purple cloud coming out of it
Part of The Beacon

OUR STORY

Nebula Girls Group

Gain a unique insight into the challenges and strengths of being an autistic girl in today’s world.

SOLD OUT Part of Loading Bay

Rich(ard) Dawson

Plus Guests

Returning to tour his new record, End of the Middle.