Half Moon's fantastic play Begin/End has now come to an end.

So it's finally over.
Begin/End - does just what it says on the tin. It began and now has come to an end. As a small theatre company Half Moon don't have a repertory company of actors who can be relied on to put on ad hoc performances, so the fantastic Begin/End company will now go their separate ways.

Begin/End finished up at Oval House Theatre in London and all the team went down to give it a farewell send off. The performers Rachel McKenzie and Amy Costello once again were fantastic, good luck with whatever comes next! Stage Manager Trevor Nichol has also been a star, coaxing Half Moon's old orange van - Jessie, around the country and hosting the after show 'textbacks' with the aplomb of Oprah.

So thanks to everyone who has supported Begin/End around the country, we think it has been a fantastic production, we hope that you have too. Don't forget there are educational resources for the show and lots more information about Half Moon on our website - check it out. www.halfmoon.org.uk

VJ Paul Hithersay reflects on how Begin/End has developed

First time I've been to Cambridge and the Junction in years. The venue looks absolutely great from outside and the work done on the inside has utterly transformed it.

My eyes just went straight to Anna's set on stage where it looked so perfect from the height and distance of our seats, it made me say 'wow' out loud! This was the first time I'd seen it since the tech rehearsal, it was like being greeted by an old friend!

Then the first words and I'm impressed again at just how strong and natural Amy's characterisation of Lili has become. I was always impressed with what I saw of Amy's work in development at Half Moon, with the whole process of Angela's direction and the ideas that emerged. The performance I was seeing here was perfect. This IS Lili. Then from the moment Yaz appears I'm transfixed again. The timing and poise that Rachel has and maintains throughout, is, actually awesome. The way she conveys Yaz's character growing and changing is so well conceived. Her movement, body language, gestures, voice, and facial expressions are riveting and they absolutely fit the moment.

What really works for me is the amazing dynamic that has developed between these characters. I was hugely impressed by the way in which Amy and Rachel have worked together in making the relationship between Lilli and Yaz so believable through how (as actors) they move and interact physically on stage. The way Rachel has understood Yaz as someone who changes while her friend Lili stays stuck, is played out physically, as well as in dialogue and narrative, with great insight, finesse and empathy. They have both made this work on so many levels. The way Amy lives Lili's turmoils, frustrations and rejection is just brilliant. She makes you able to feel exasperatingly contradictory emotions about the way Lili thinks and behaves. You feel her almost going mad with both the joy and the pain. The story is of a roller-coaster emotional journey, Amy and Rachel took us on it with impressive skill and power.

The stage management was seamless magic, the music filled and fitted the world of Lili and Yaz's journey with real integrity and purpose. I thought the visuals worked well, not too intrusive but still appropriately meaningful. There was never a moment when my attention was away from the action. Time belonged to the world within the stage and the story. Lili and Yaz (Amy and Rachel) absolutely owned it!

A superlatively impressive show in a very impressive venue.

Judging from the audience response and the perceptive, enthusiastic questions afterwards, they were very impressed, too!

If you've been wondering where the Begin/End team are... here they are in Lancaster, Cambridge today!

Rachel, Amy and Trevor reunited again and in Lancaster - good to see the Begin/End posters up and about the town too! Thanks to all who came to see the show and for your questions after the performance.