A new play, All of Us by Rebecca Abrams, was performed at the Suter Theatre in Nelson on 27 May 2023 to a nearly full house. One of the sponsors, along with Ministry of Justice, is Restorative Justice Nelson; this is appropriate because the play deals with “a family fractured and torn apart by violence and incarceration,” the program quotes. “As one of the family members comes to the end of their prison sentence, each of them explores how to move on and heal.”

We learn while watching the play how this process of Restorative Justice works. The amount of compassion, empathy and understanding felt in the audience is palpable. This is due to a wonderful script that Abrams has created and effective performances by the four actors (women with busy careers too.)

All of Us is directed by teacher Sharon Lukitau-Ngaamo, who stepped convincingly into the role of Oliver, with only a week’s notice (and due to necessity.) Oliver is a son of Clare, played with humour and heart by Penny Taylor, and sister of Eliza, projected well by Miranda Warner – also a Restorative Justice facilitator in Nelson.

The plot follows Oliver getting out of prison after 12 years for the murder of his father. The play begins with a Restorative Justice facilitator named Cori, played like a pro by Dawn Marron. Cori is setting up a comfortable space for a Restorative Justice meeting. Through flashbacks and the convention of a split stage to show two things happening at once, the plot of the play unfolds in non-chronological order, thus making the experience for the audience more gripping and ultimately uplifting. 

The ruptured mother and daughter have not communicated or seen Oliver since his trial, and since that time sister Eliza searches to move on yet the past comes calling and the forgetting is not happening. Playwright Abrams uses a Brechtian technique of a chorus circling troubled mother Clare, while she’s in monologue. This enhances Clare’s deepest thoughts and feelings, and the effect is exciting theatre.

Furthermore, Oliver wishes to communicate with his sister and mother, 12 years after his crime. And true to life, Cori tells Oliver this can only work if they are honest with each other. She also explains that he can make no excuses such as, “I did it because you did that.” We gradually learn the conditions and facts behind Oliver’s family life and it’s heinous.  

The 85-minute production is quickly followed by a Q and A with actors and facilitators. The discussion is important because it does what the director hoped – to put us all in conversation about how, for restorative justice to occur, an offender needs to take responsibility for their actions in a way that takes care of the victim’s wellbeing. The talk back is also inspiring because we hear from the actors as to what they hoped for an audience to feel: compassion, communication, understanding and taking shame out of facing the pain. I can truthfully say, I did feel those things. I also feel a forgiveness – to all of us – for being human.

All for Us is a compelling story with plenty of humour and great dramatic writing. Word is that there will be a film soon, produced by the Ministry. I’m one of the lucky ones who saw it live first. 

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