Oh, Calm Down by Charlotte Anne-Tilley.

Oh, Calm Down is a heartfelt drama where two storylines run parallel throughout the play. In 1999 Lucy (Maddy Banks) is about to have her baby, a single mother whose precise birth plan isn’t achieved (they rarely are). She is scared, alone, and spirally into the abyss of depression very fast.

Fast forward to 2024 and Claire (Charlotte Anne-Tilley) an art student is struggling to keep up with her course and trying to keep her panic attacks at arm’s length which leads to her dwelling on her mortality while trying to cling onto her place at University.

As we watch the characters spiral into the realms of depression, it becomes evident from the explanation delivered about the range of the conditions that both Lucy and Claire have different forms of OCD. However, misdiagnosis and ignorance regarding the different types of OCD are commonplace.

A complex and beautiful play entwines and crosses over throughout the play. Both actors switch effortlessly between their characters. Believable and sometimes tear-jerking performances where you are drawn into their minds and feel some of their despair.

The two actors deliver thought-provoking performances that call into question preconceptions about OCD and challenge presumptions made by those who don’t understand how the mind becomes obsessed with dark negative thoughts.

For more information about Oh, Calm Down please visit the first two links below. For more information about OCD click on the third below.

Four Stars

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/oh-calm-down