Eleanor May Blackburn’s solo show A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List, directed by Emily Browning, focuses on Phoebe, a character who uses lists to organise her life. You do as well?
Probably not quite to the extent that Phoebe does. The depth of power lists have over her existence is plumbed in this tightly written and well-acted show.
The 50-minute performance, based on Blackburn’s own experiences as a neurodivergent writer and actor from Sheffield, explores obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It begins with an audio description to set the scene, making the show more accessible for visually impaired audiences by design, not adaptation. The staging is simple, a duvet, notebook, and handbag marking out Phoebe’s room, creating an intimate space that draws the audience in but with few distractions.
Phoebe calls herself the “Queen of lists,” starting with everyday examples such as shopping items, favourite stationery, least favourite numbers, past jobs ranked by frustration, and a folder of missed opportunities in her emails.
As the lists grow more overwhelming, a pink fluffy monster named Fred appears, described as “potentially friendly”. This leads to darker thoughts, like listing ways she might die. The story shows how these habits take over, leaving Phoebe isolated, with unanswered voice messages from family and friends highlighting her struggle.
There’s a relentless futility to her endless quest, filled with endless tasks that bring inevitable disappointment, and thus more entries in the to-do lists.
Blackburn’s delivery is energetic, using fast speech to show Phoebe’s racing thoughts and deft physical movements to express emotions.
“There’s a relentless futility to her endless quest, filled with endless tasks that bring inevitable disappointment, and thus more entries in the to-do lists.”
Sound effects add to the tension, whilst the narrative builds empathy without blaming anyone or offering easy solutions. It leaves the audience with a sense of compassion and, hopefully, useful insights to the lived reality of some with OCD.
The show’s strengths lie in its honesty and vivid descriptions, whether of Phoebe’s inner monologue or in the cleverly written portrayal of Fred. It’s tricky to make such an interior journey work on stage, but Blackburn certainly does.
The combination of spoken words, physical theatre, and sound creates an effective sense of what the character is going through. It avoids preaching and encourages thought.
However, rapid pacing can make some parts hard to follow, and the structure feels fragmented at times. That’s possibly inevitable when trying to capture such a multi-form experience, however.
Overall, however, A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List provides a clear and thoughtful portrayal of OCD, using highly personal storytelling to share insights without simple answers. Blackburn and Browning can be proud of this inventive, open-ended portrait of an everyday life spent negotiating relentless, obsessive compulsion.
Show details
Venue: Venue 236: Greenside @ George Street, The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, EH2 2PQ (Google Maps)
Date(s): Mon 11 Aug to Sat 23 Aug (12 shows)
Time(s): 9:00pm (50 mins)
Age recommendation: 14+
Price: From £12 (concessions available)
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