Absence of Youth
27 January 2026
Golden Goose Theatre
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Absence of Youth, a new production by Final Run, is currently running at the Golden Goose Theatre until 31st January.
The show is set in an apocalyptic near-future in which a medical creation touted as anew miracle drug has created a zombie apocalypse in which a group of young people fight for survival and process the trauma of growing up too soon in a hostile environment.
Absence of Youth is loud and chaotic in the best way, a real zombie apocalypse feel on a small stage with minimal effects. With just five actors, the show creates a tense and pressing atmosphere of survival on the brink of devastation. There is solid acting in this piece, intensity and mystery. The world building is done extremely well, trickle feeding small bits of information through natural conversation in a series of short scenes. There are themes of loss and violence, desperation and a glimmer of hope, and an overarching story of ambition and class divides.
The world created in Absence of Youth is intriguing, very richly painted, and beautifully brought to life by a group of very capable actors. At a running time of just over half an hour, it does leave the audience itching for more though. Just as the main themes are revealed and explored, it is already cut short. With such a rich and well constructed backstory, the play is a great basis to work with, hopefully leading to a full length production that could delve deeper into the plot lines presented, giving audiences more to sink their teeth into, and creating a more rounded narrative overall.
At this time, it is a fantastic scene that feels plucked from a larger story, a glimpse into a more elaborate drama that seems ripe for a deeper exploration of these wonderfully written young people in their fight to survive against the odds. It is not yet a fully formed work on its own, but a brilliant starting point to elaborate on, drawing in the audience with intense world building and whetting the appetite for more.
