An Instinct for Kindness

In November 2010, Chris Larner accompanied his chronically ill ex-wife to Switzerland’s Dignitas clinic. He came home with an empty wheelchair and a story to tell.

This ‘intensely moving’ (Independent), bittersweet show reflects on the circumstances, morality and humanity surrounding the journey. In a candid, poignant and sometimes comic performance, Chris explores both the profound personal implications and the wider ethical considerations of the contentious issue of assisted dying. An Instinct for Kindness premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011, where it won the Scotsman Fringe First Award and was featured on BBC’s Newsnight Review as a highlight of the festival. Told with ‘scrupulous, unflinching honesty’, it reminds us that ‘how we die is as important as how we live’ (The Guardian).