It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Driver’s Seat: Obsessive Compulsive Disaster

Location:  theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall – Theatre 3 (Venue 53)

Dates: Aug 2nd-6th, 8th-10th, 13th, 15th-20th, 22nd-24th

Time: 15:10

Price: £8Concessions £5

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/driver-s-seat-obsessive-compulsive-disaster

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hi! My name is Ellie Brelis and I am a playwright, actor, and producer. I’m inspired to use the stage and the medium of theatre as a vehicle to cultivate compassion for others. In particular, I hope to normalise the experience and struggles of mental health issues, and uplift voices that are often never given a chance to be heard. I am born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and I am thrilled to be making my Edinburgh Festival Fringe premier as the writer and performer of Driver’s Seat: Obsessive Compulsive Disaster. 

Tell us all about your show!

Buckle up for a shockingly funny and twisted ride through an epic breakup, major breakdown, coming out, and – just possibly – learning how to drive.

When you’re eight, monsters live under your bed. Ellie’s live in her head, threatening to harm her sister and taunting the imminent death of her parents. After her monster was diagnosed as OCD, the life in threat became hers. Flash forward to 2020: Ellie can’t drive, she can’t eat pizza, she decidedly can’t keep a boyfriend… but the one thing she can do is find humour in the horror. 

How did you come up with the name of your show that your taking to the fringe?

Growing up, I was always made to believe I was quirky, not crazy. I was terrified of being called ‘crazy.’ Then I realized: You can’t scare me – my OCD has already played out every horrific scenario imaginable in my head a countless number of times. My OCD was severely triggered by the thought of driving a car, and prevented me from getting my license for so many years. As I considered this and began writing this play, I realized that the metaphor of getting behind the wheel spilled over into so many other facets of my life that I was scared to take back from my OCD and have control over. I was finally ready to be in charge of my destination, and embrace all of the twists and turns along the way. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Our team cannot wait to support our friends who are returning to Fringe with their show Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life. We are also very excited to see all of the shows that the company Stamptown is bringing to the festival. As we have come across the many other acts, we are really excited by the amount of shows that are championing mental health, neurodiversity, and LGBTQIA+ stories and cannot wait to connect with those storytellers. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe. 

We have not (please give us advice!).

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

X (Twitter): @driversseatplay

Instagram: @driversseatplay

TikTok: @elliebrelis

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

The trip’s worth it (sorry – my OCD won’t let me have an uneven number of words).