Colin Ebsworth is an incredibly talented comedian who takes audiences on a hilarious and vulnerable journey through his experiences of living with undiagnosed ADHD.
Ebsworth brings his award-winning show from Perth for its Adelaide Fringe debut, and honestly it’s a crime this show only runs until 2nd March. Ebsworth is a powerhouse of a performer, artfully and seamlessly weaving comedy, life story experiences, cultural references, and media to take his audience on a poignant journey. Ebsworth immediately engages his audience by painting a vivid picture of what his experience of ADHD with audience participation and the clever use of his trusty soundboard. As well as his own experience, Ebsworth provides an accurate and accessible description of ADHD including peppering facts on dopamine, heritability, and demand avoidance throughout. Don’t be fooled though, this show is not a Ted Talk on ADHD as his superpower.
Ebsworth highlights the experience of ADHD within the education system. He starts by taking the audiences inside the mind of primary school Colin, sharing excerpts of school reports, along with stories and jokes to artfully illustrate his experiences. As we move with him to high school, he shares more school reports and anecdotes; humorously describing experiences that much of the audience appeared to resonate with. Ebsworth expertly describes his experiences of being “othered” whilst still wittily maintaining the comedic overtone of the show. Ebsworth also shares his glimmers; personal moments of light when teachers, friends, and his wonderfully supportive partner believed in him. He briefly explores his experiences of developing his comedic craft, and as an audience member you have a brief glimpse into how insanely dedicated and talented Ebsworth is. From the audience’s rapt attention, you can clearly see how different parts of his experience resonated with different audiences.
Ebsworth’s final revelation and raw vulnerability are what elevates this show from pure comedy brilliance to an unparalleled performance. His clear passion and thought-provoking statements brought together audience members who had also experienced “othering”. This Fringe show is an absolute must see, for neurodivergent and neurotypical alike.