Edinburgh Fringe 2026: Right before I go – Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh

Writer: Stan Zimmerman

Director: Abigail Morris

When news reached him that his good friend Kevin Gill had committed suicide, shortly before he was due to take part in a scheduled reading of a new play, Gilmore Girls and Golden Girls writer Stan Zimmerman struggled to come to terms with his death and began the process that eventually led to Right before I go. To put his friend’s death into context and to understand the reasons why people take their own lives, he read through a large amount of published suicide notes, many of which are read out, in whole or in part, verbatim in this simply staged, yet powerfully moving production.

Zimmerman links the narrative of his friend’s death with the letters and also links together the contents of the notes. Four actors read the notes and a fifth plays the person who made the call to him and planned the funeral with him. All of them sit on stools throughout most of the production. Beginning with the suicide notes of celebrities or would be celebrities and moving on through war veterans, victims of school bullying and people identifying as LGBTQ+, what is striking about the notes is both the variety of reasons and the way the reasons are expressed. There are feelings of worthlessness, guilt and shame and occasionally simple boredom or disillusionment with what life has to offer. The mixture of regret at what the consequences of the decision will be for loved ones combine with fingers pointed at bullies who probably never felt real remorse even when confronted with the ultimate consequences of their actions.

Ending with letters from suicide survivors who have got their life back on track, the play seeks to provide a positive message and to show that there can be a bright future on the other side of despair. With Zimmerman and the cast inviting questions from the audience and continuing conversations outside the show, along with links provided to suicide prevention charities, it is a responsible and much needed production.

Runs until 31 August 2026 (Not 24th) | Image: Contributed