The loss of a loved one can be crushing and the grief that often accompanies it can often be overwhelming for most people. Christina Evans discusses these themes in her new performance, Together Forever.

Following the success of her previous show Toys, Evans has returned to Adelaide after a number of years, with a new performance that has close connections for Evans herself. Staged in the gorgeous Memorial Gardens Centennial Park Cemetery, in a grassy garden surrounded by lush shrubbery, Evans enters the space wearing a striking red dress. With such a powerful colour that is so markedly different from the hues of green and brown that surround her, it is profound how well she dominates the environment. It is not harsh and demanding though that she owns the space, rather standing out as a bright rose in a field of undergrowth. 

Her performance though was somewhat different to her noticeable appearance. Soft and gentle, it was appropriate for clearly the most dominant theme of the show, how to process loss and come to peace with the grief that is always a part of losing a loved one. Highlighting the different stages of grief with different movements in the show, it was clearly impactful for a number of members of the audience who were moved to tears, which is what good theatre is all about. Establishing that connection with the audience in a way that is genuine makes theatre all worthwhile. The dance show itself has elements of theatre with movement as Evans reciting short passages and comments from the audience. Much of the language in the show had been taken from the headstones from the Centennial Park Cemetery, linking the performance intrinsically to its surroundings. 

Evens is lovely and warm in her performance. Her entire demeanour is charming and was easily able to put the audience at ease despite the serious and sensitive nature of the show. It would be fair to describe the performance as Evans guiding the audience through the process of healing, one that the audience was evidently willing to accompany her on. It is rare to see a show so perfectly woven into its space, and the venue plays such an important part of the story, but Evens pulls it off magnificently.