There is a phrase to describe that feeling of impending doom you get on Sunday evenings before the start of a new week. It’s called the ‘Sunday Scaries.’ Psychologists say it’s caused by ‘real world stress’. Urban Dictionary defines it as ‘that feeling after a long week of work, followed by a Saturday full of binge drinking, then Sunday hits you and you question your entire existence.’

In high school I would lie awake tossing and turning, begging Sunday night to never end. Often I still have that feeling of total dread but instead of heading to class, it’s work. Sick dread caused by overthinking the seemingly insurmountable amount of things that have to be done then realising I don’t have enough time, hands, energy or spirit to get it all done. Then I wonder what it is I’m actually doing with my life. What’s it all for and to what end?

Ah, the sweet thought of everything just suspending momentarily, just enough to catch a breath. Everyone frozen like at the start of those Mannequin Challenge videos. Jumping off that endlessly running treadmill of time.

Time. We never seem to have enough of it. Then suddenly, one day it’s gone. We have had the  characters in This Is How We’re Gonna Die face exactly this. Their lives are rushing past. They’re so caught up in the busy, messy distractions going on all around them that they’ve lost track of what is important, what is harmful, what they want in life. Then suddenly all of their shit becomes petty and trivial when they discover that the world is about to end. Now all that matters is stitching back together the delicate fabric of their lives so they can die in peace. And it all happens on a Sunday!

I am on the Soapbox today ranting about not taking life or the people around you for granted, to fight for the things you want, to let go of the things that are harmful or hurt you. As someone riddled with meandering anxious thoughts constantly, instead of succumbing to the Sunday scaries (every night), perhaps I can seize those moments of quiet and focus on the positives, the things I am grateful for because, after all, a giant meteorite isn’t about to obliterate earth so things aren’t that bad after all!

I fell in love with theatre because it’s such a raw and special experience. The action happens in real time, right in front of you! Even if it runs for multiple nights, the play will never be performed in that exact way ever again, and that makes it feel so magic.

I fell in love with theatre because it’s such a raw and special experience. The action happens in real time, right in front of you! Even if it runs for multiple nights, the play will never be performed in that exact way ever again, and that makes it feel so magic. Sometimes after a long week of work I can feel uninspired, numb, and frankly quite directionless. However, there’s nothing better than going to the theatre on a Saturday night, soaking up the experience, and then waking up on Sunday feeling different. I’ll float through my day, conscious of the fact that a small part of my soul has been changed. Maybe I’m more hopeful or invigorated than I was before?

Maybe I’m more hopeful or invigorated than I was before? 

Theatre can serve as a reminder to notice the many things we take for granted. Tense family dramas can prompt us to be grateful for any normalcy in our current relationships. Side-splitting comedies remind us to not take life so seriously. Plays about love can provide the answers we’ve been searching for, or (even better) more questions to ask. Performances that showcase life from a different perspective can be eye-opening and serve as an important intimation to stay empathetic and be warm towards others.

This Is How We’re Gonna Die looks at a Sunday evening that happens to be, unbeknownst to the characters at first, the last day that Earth will exist. It’s the ultimate Scary Sunday. We want audiences to watch our show and emerge at the end feeling differently. Feeling lucky to be alive, not feeling so alone in the world, and like their ‘big’ problems may not be so big after all. Maybe even feeling like this Sunday will be a little less scary.

This Is How We’re Gonna Die is inspired by all the things we tend to not talk about enough--relationships, regrets, death, aspirations, insecurities, and mental health. Our hope is that the characters are relatable, that audiences connect with them, and that they find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. After all, shared experiences of heartbreak, joy, pain, isolation, laughter, and death are what unite us.      

PG Production will donate $10 from each ticket sale to Youthline. We chose Youthline because mental health is incredibly important to us. Youthline are working harder than ever to keep up with demand and they need the support of the New Zealand public.                                                                        

This Is How We’re Gonna Die will be showing from the 19th-23rd of February at 6.45pm at Q Theatre’s Vault; you can get your tickets here.