★★★★
Megan Rebecca’s play about an ADHD support group is a perfect distillation of the varied lived experiences of neurodiverse people. It’s refreshing to see female voices centred and this character-led work boasts a strong cast and funny asides. The chaos of the support group is evoked so well, it sometimes feels like a sensory nightmare. Amongst the noise there are some great stand-out comedy moments. All 2022 East 15 graduates, the cast’s chemistry is perfect.
Hannah Wengård’s Ellen is the epitome of the ineffectual group leader, unable to keep order. We’ve all met Sophie Lynch’s Grace; fussy, sweet, yet always putting her foot in it. Vincent Lockwood plays a drum-beat obsessed Jay, very much in concert with Cassie Bunton’s Maz who gave great attitude and showed the real feelings of anger when one’s mind is in a constant state of agitation. Lily Downes’ Beth embodies the plays punchline excellently. Director and writer Megan Rebecca also plays Steff, the groups ‘old-timer’, who opens up for the first time, this imbues the play with its deeper message of how living with ADHD and little help can really wreck your life.
It was Jospeh Klaus’s Thomas that initially didn’t sit right with me. A very stereotypical portrayal of an autistic character; Doctor Who obsessed and infodumping facts here and there, (although ironically I was annoyed when he recounted all the Doctors, he missed out Peter Davidson). Perhaps pained from so many bad autistic portrayals at this year’s fringe I was ready to slam my reviewing foot down. But after the performance I got talking to the show’s creatives. I found out that in fact the basis of the character was rooted in lived experience as well as the actors. I still feel it would’ve been nice to have had a female autistic character in a play that so excellently showed ADHD from a female perspective.
Rebecca’s work is one of the most ambitious I’ve seen at this year’s fringe, with 11 performances over three days. She and her cast should be proud of their success, they’ve managed to convey the complexities of neurodiversity whilst still being funny and original.
Buzzing Anonymous Arthur Conan Doyle Centre – The Helen Duncan Room (Times Vary) (35m) Aug 26- 28 £7/6
