The eponymous protagonist, Jack McRay, was an interesting character.

A hardened Yorkshire-man with a lifetime’s worth of anecdotes, he was tenacious, tough, and not about to go out without a fight.

As he sat in God’s waiting room, he told the audience about his past in a manner that was alternately funny and sad, touching and terrifying.

A solo show by Alister Austin, this performance was a masterclass in building a character.

Austin’s dedication to the role was admirable and consistent, and he became Jack.

The lighting focused on the actor and there was little need for props or backdrops. For the full 50 minutes, the audience were pulled into another world which seemed starkly realistic.

Jack was at times an unpleasant character, but with enough hidden qualities to remind us that everyone has stories to tell, and often when someone dies, these stories are gone forever.

There was a comedic undertone to the writing, which balanced out the raw, gritty parts.

Dark, human and realistic, this show was an intense submersion and deserved a larger audience.

For a sweary, 16+ show, it was odd that it was programmed for mid-afternoon, and I can’t help but think that an evening showing would have been better.

Four stars