Driver's Seat: Obsessive Compulsive Disaster

A genuine, heartfelt, and humorous look at Ellie’s experience with OCD and how it’s influenced her life path. Engaging writing, well-directed, and well-paced. Ellie truly gives the performance her all. I was emotionally invested in her story and with her every step of the way.

So glad I got to see this show. It’s incredibly relatable as someone who suffers from OCD, but it also showcases that it’s not all bad, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Poignant, touching, but with humor sprinkled throughout.

Raw, moving and important show that hit hard and true, but still had plenty of laughs - thank you for making us feel seen and supported

I myself have OCD and lived this show. There were parts where I was nodding along and others where I saw a different side to OCD - it comes in a variety of flavours, which was touched on. This was a life-affirming, compelling and endearing show that, whether you suffer similar conditions or not, I recommend you try and see!

What a remarkable performance by a brave woman who grabs your attention with the opening line and never lets it go. With just two chairs and strong lighting Brelis uses her razor sharp writing to go from comedy to tragedy seamlessly. All of it is propelled by brilliant acting. The show closes Aug 24 and do yourself a favor to see before it does. You will not regret it and you will learn so much about OCD. The best thing I have seen at Fringe this year by far.
Five stars *****

Stunning performance, excellent writing and powerful, well crafted show all around. Realistic and heartfelt story of living with OCD, framed in humor and in a responsible way. Powerful arc and strong themes and callbacks throughout. A delight to watch as any fringe show just as entertainment, then life changing and moving if you or a loved one live with OCD. Would see it again!
“I love you, I love you, I love you!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful and honest play by Ellie.
Tears were shed by many around, as well as hearty laughs. A masterclass of acting with perfectly executed gear changes that don't let you know what emotion is coming next.
A must see for those that want to be thrown around by stories and feelings.

Beautiful, funny, and often heartbreaking, this nakedly open memoir of OCD and suicidality is a perfect ad for mental health care, especially self-care. I wish more people would watch this show, hell I wish everyone would!

Ellie’s performance is mesmerising. She shares aspects of her life with courage, humour and with moments that make you cry. She is a wonderful actress who commands the stage and her story is so worth telling. Do please go to see her - it’s one of the most memorable hours I’ve spent this Festival.

Ellie is a true powerhouse.
From the second she steps on stage she carries you into her world with such conviction that you feel her pain and her joy.
A flawless performance, excellent lighting and sound.
The best one woman show I have seen in ages.
Would love to see her in other plays as well.

Briliant, a show that has meaning done really well.
Thanks to all involved

It’s just a woman, speaking, and two seats in an intimate performance space. But it is riveting, it’s painful, it’s lovely and it could be life-changing. Those of us who live with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misunderstood, we are subject to intrusive thoughts which others cannot comprehend and we engage in compulsive habits which make our friends and family smile or worse. Ellie Brelis’s amazing one woman show could just open the door into this condition a little wider. She must be so brave to expose her demons to us each day. She certainly communicates what she has experienced most powerfully. Not the glitziest Fringe show, not the most outrageous but it might be the most significant for our understanding of a mental health condition that needs more attention. Please give an hour to watch this unforgettable play. “Driver’s Seat” might change your life; I’m still pondering how it has altered mine.

Great show, both poignant and hilarious.