This was a bit of a wildcard choice for me. I’d seen the press release and found it intriguing enough to head along – even though it’s on late in the evening at 22:45. Still, the audience numbers were strong, which is always a good sign for that time slot.
The premise: Anja is a 19-year-old college student who just can’t f@%$ing take it anymore. Honest, sardonic and hopeful, The End is an eccentric one-woman coming-of-age comedy navigating Anja’s fateful semester studying in Dublin, and the epic realisation that anything can be funny – even when you are knee-deep in an identity crisis and your mother is neck-deep in relapse. Written and directed by Anja Schwarzbaue.
From the moment she appeared on stage, Anja brought an offbeat, sardonic humour that clicked well with the audience. She even used a bit of “annoyed with the sound engineer” banter, which gave the performance a mischievous, unscripted edge. Her rapport with her onstage keyboard player was a highlight – they bounced off each other naturally, with quick one-liners and subtle looks that drew extra laughs. At one point, the keyboard player even held up a sign saying “Don’t clap,” which the audience found hilarious.
Anja’s physical comedy was strong too. The audience quickly got used to her lying flat out on the floor, using it as a visual punchline in itself. It’s those odd, slightly absurd details that kept the energy fresh.
The pacing was spot on for a late-night show – brisk enough to keep people engaged but never rushed. Lighting and sound were used effectively, with just enough shifts in mood to match the changes in tone. The final song, performed by Anja on guitar, was a gentle but satisfying way to round things off, sending the audience out smiling.
If there’s one area for improvement, it would be to go deeper into her relationship with her mother. The script touches on it, but it feels like there’s room to explore that emotional thread further – it could add even more depth and contrast to the humour.
Overall, The End is a smart, funny, slightly oddball piece of late-night theatre. It’s engaging, well-performed, and a great way to set yourself up for the rest of the evening – or to end the night on a high.
I award it 4 stars
★★★★☆ –Anja Delivers Late Night Fun
