The Edinburgh Fringe is almost upon us and to get prepared for another Scottish summer Read About Stuff is running a ‘Five From The Fringe’ interview series, where creative teams answer five questions about their upcoming Festival shows.
In this interview, I chat to Mo Maka about their new show Do Not Attempt This Conversation.
Can you tell me a little about your show and what audiences can expect?
Do Not Attempt This Conversation is a 60-minute medical ethical dramedy set over the course of a single conversation in an NHS hospital. It follows Nneka, a junior doctor at the end of an exhausting shift, who is unexpectedly tasked with leading a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation discussion with Stephanie, a distressed relative whose grandfather is dying on the ward. As the conversation unfolds, the play explores grief, race, burnout, bureaucracy and communication, asking what happens when nobody in the room feels truly heard.
Audiences can expect an emotionally honest, fast-paced and sometimes surprisingly funny piece of theatre. While it deals with serious themes, it is ultimately a very human story about two people trying to navigate an impossible situation.
What drew you to this specific story, and why does it belong at the Edinburgh Fringe?
I’m a working junior doctor, and during my training I became increasingly aware of how much emotional labour takes place behind closed hospital doors. Some of the most significant conversations in medicine happen under immense pressure, often involving people who are frightened, grieving and trying to make sense of the impossible. I wanted to explore that reality through theatre.
The Edinburgh Fringe feels like the right home for this story because it champions bold, personal and urgent work. Do Not Attempt This Conversation sits at the intersection of theatre, medicine and social commentary, and I hope it contributes to wider conversations about healthcare, communication and what it means to care for one another.
What has been the biggest challenge in bringing this production to life?
The biggest challenge has been balancing authenticity with theatricality. As someone who works within the NHS, I wanted the medical aspects of the play to feel truthful and recognisable, but theatre demands more than accuracy alone. The challenge has been finding the dramatic and emotional language that allows audiences, regardless of their background, to connect with these experiences.
On a practical level, bringing a new play to life while working full-time as a junior doctor has also required a great deal of resilience, collaboration and faith in the project.
How does the design of your show (set, sound, or lighting) impact the presentation of your story?
The design of the show is intentionally minimal. The set evokes the clinical environment of an NHS hospital without overwhelming the audience with realism. This simplicity allows the focus to remain on the conversation itself and the shifting emotional landscape between the two characters.
Sound and lighting play a crucial role in creating atmosphere and tension. The starkness of the hospital setting, moments of silence, and subtle shifts in sound and light help to convey the pressure, isolation and emotional intensity experienced by both characters.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
At its heart, the play is about the conversations we avoid: conversations about death, grief, race, responsibility and our own limitations. Yet these are often the conversations that matter most. The play asks what happens when two people, each carrying their own fears and burdens, are forced to face those difficult truths together.
Do Not Attempt This Conversation runs at Lime Studio at Greenside @ George Street (Venue 236) from August 7th – 30th. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/do-not-attempt-this-conversation
