Four weigh ins and a funeral - at the Lion & Unicorn theatre, Kentish Town

Four weigh-ins and a funeral is an intriguing play from writer and director Emma Burnell. Don't let the quirky title put you off. The weight watchers setting provides the plot line for a play that touches a number of emotions and themes. The desire to lose weight, brings the five characters: Faiza (Berny Bareto), Jenny (Claire Fairman), May (Lou Mellanie Hutchings), Marcia (Maurtrice Wagner) and Kelly (Nance Turner) together. They all have different reasons to lose weight. Jenny for her wedding, Marcia for her funeral. The women come together to support each other in the goal of losing weight but also in life. They all celebrate the wedding. But the focus then turns to Marcia, who is diagnosed with cancer and has six months to live. There are some poignant moments, such as when Kelly suggests to Marcia that she forgets her diet and eat what she likes. But Marcia has her pride and dignity. She wants to be able to wear a dress, she used to go dancing in, when younger, for her funeral. The women support her. This 55 minute play touches a lot of emotions but perhaps most prominent is the sense of community and solitary across a number of diverse characters. The play was commissioned by The Play's the Thing for the Taking the Stage Festival. It marks another excellent effort from Burnell, following on her Triggered about the machinations of the Labour Party selection process. Four weigh-ins and a funeral deserves a further run when it finishes at the Lion & Unicorn theatre on Saturday. Runs till 10 May