21 - My Dead Dad w/Emma Morgan

Emma Morgan shares a profoundly intimate and raw experience of visiting her dying father in a COVID ward, highlighting the emotional complexity of farewell amidst pandemic restrictions.

She describes the clinical atmosphere, the emotive family conversations, and the surreal moments like her dad's oxygen-induced euphoria and his simple request "tell the doctors I want to go home."

Emma reflects on the burden of making life-and-death decisions during this time, the tensions between dignity and pandemic protocols, and the universal pain of watching a loved one die.

Importantly, she conveys the mix of grief, political frustration, and the challenge of human connection during isolation, noting: "I really was screwed up about it for ages," and how the loss was magnified by the pandemic context.

This story illuminates the deeply personal impact of COVID on families and the challenges of grief under extraordinary circumstances.

• Emma Morgan recounts her experience visiting her dying father in a COVID hospital ward in October 2020.
• She describes the emotional moments, the decision to remove oxygen, and witnessing his last breaths with vivid, personal detail.

• Emma noticed a shift from narrating to reliving her story during her performance.
• She likened early parts to a stage show and the end to an emotional, personal experience.