Lamesha Ruddock
If the end of the world is here, if the soil is barren, let us go out on our own terms, strange fruits can’t be born on such infertile ground. The End of the World is a stark, honest, liberating delivery on the state of the world. Theatre at its most necessary.
Tired of this world, Desiree decides to take her life live via TikTok, for the voyeurs, for the instigators, for the live audience to witness and hear her final remarks.
The End of the World is superb, cleverly written and performed by Destiny Faith Nelson. Exposing the toxicity and individualism of the chronically online world; the contentification of survival tactics; and the jaded yet palpable desire for even a second of solace to romanticise this cruel world.
You may have heard Black women are going on strike, opting out, minding their business. Certainly for the 92% of women who voted for Kamala in the 2024 US Election. I’m not saying Black women hold premonitions, and the time for “I told you so” is far too late, so how do you encourage us to choose a world that refuses to listen to us?
The illuminated screen pours out a wave of headlines that pretty much confirm our worries that we’re at the end of the world. A series of moving boxes are scattered around the stage as Desiree prepares. A consistent tripod leers over the show as Desiree livestreams her end and the comments flood in, online voyeurs meet audience voyeurs, one and the same.
Destiny is confronting, lyricial and completely commanding. Destiny pours herself earnestly and spritely from poetic to prose, her words sear into you, and her deep care for her community, her roommate, her wordsmithery. As every minute progresses, you can’t help but enter a state of mourning for all the words left unwritten and unsaid if Desiree was to remove herself from the world before she got to say it all.
Like Vinay Patel wrote, “miracles want to be witnessed”, and you got to be here to make miracles, and we got to be here to witness it.
The End of the World leaves you hopeful that the impact of small, considerate actions can shift us into realities we all desperately need. Where we don’t need bunkers in New Zealand.
A must see before the world ends.
Recommended Drink: Apocalypse Negroni Sbagliato with prosecco in it
Performances of The End Of The World have now concluded at EdFringe 2026.
