The Solo Trip Saga Part Two

josiedaniel

Jul 19, 20234 min read

Post Traumatic Slay Disorder

TW: Mentions of eating disorders, sexual assault/rape, slimming, PTSD, and general talk of mental health. Please do not read this blog post if any of the above topics are triggering or upsetting. Resources will be linked at the bottom of this post <3

Ok I am so excited to talk about this one you guys.

So this was a one woman show written by and also starring Lois-Amber Toole (https://www.instagram.com/loisamber/).

I remember, months and months ago, walking past the poster for this show and thinking to myself 'I NEED to be in the audience of that show'. The poster gives off SERIOUS Olivia Rodrigo 'SOUR' vibes, and as someone who says 'slay' unironically (it started as a joke I promise) I vowed then and there, in the middle of Seven Dials, to see the show.

The image shows a a girl with space buns, her eyes are closed and her tongue is sticking out. On her tongue is a tablet capsule filled with silver glitter. The text reads 'Post Traumatic Slay Disorder'.

I mean come on are you telling me you wouldn't want to see this show???

Then, as is my way, the show slipped through the cracks of my memory. A distant thought locked up in a box inside my mind until my new friend at my new job said "oh my girlfriend has written this show and she stars in it, it's called Post Traumatic Slay Disorder", and there was the key that unlocked that poster from my mind.

"Oh my GOD no way! I saw the poster for that AAAAAAGES ago and really wanted to go!!"

"Well it's on in the Seven Dials Playhouse until July 1st."

Well Jonathan you don't have to tell me twice.

The tickets were £10 don't mind if I do.

So I put on my most Gen Z outfit I could (big pants little shirt and the most obnoxiously bright cardigan you've ever seen, you know the vibe) and off I went to Seven Dials.

First of all, the sign out the front was so cute.

The image shows a sign with a four star review that reads "fast-paced, honest, and gritty" the review is from London Pub Theatres. More text reads Post Traumatic Slay Disorder. There are doodles on the sign of stage lights, polaroids, stars, and there is a pink arrow pointing in the direction of the theatre.

The vibes of the whole thing were just immaculate and then to top it all off they had a SIGNATURE COCKTAIL???? Oh give it a rest it was all too good to be true! It was called a PTSpritzD (a very clever name I later found out was made up by Jonathan, good going friend) and it was delicious.

Now, when I entered the actual auditorium I was taken aback by how intimate the whole thing felt. Small space, dimly lit, it really did feel like we were being invited into the character's life. Almost as if we were inside her head. The second thing that I feel is important to note was the pre-show playlist was *chef's kiss*, songs included 'Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels' by Todrick Hall, amongst many other very slay bangers that set the mood just right.

Also a moment for the set PUH-LEASE!!

The image shows the set for the show. There is a pink curtain hung across the back of the stage, hung over the curtain is a string of a fairy lights. In front of the curtain there is a tall floor lamp that says 'Kit's World' on the lamp shade, next to the lamp is a white dresser with a heart shaped mirror, plant and disco ball on top. On the front of the dresser are the words 'you're just living in it'. On the floor next to the dresser is a black backpack, a pile of books and a beanbag. In the center of the stage there is a white chair.

So cute, please come and design my bedroom.

Then, the show began. The show follows Kit through a short period of time in her life, she's in her early twenties and is struggling with things like eating disorders, PTSD from past sexual abuse, and general mental health difficulties. The comedy was dark enough that it made you squirm a little, but not too dark that you felt bad for laughing. Some of my favourite jokes from the show include:

Kit doing a slut drop during her doctors visit to assess her eating disorder
"I was embarrassed. I started to cry... so I had to take a picture of myself." (very me coded)
Kit making a tutorial on 'slimmimg' (when you soak a tampon in alcohol and stick it up your... you get it)

The show has very dark themes overall but they are presented in a light way that makes them seem not quite as bad. For those who have experienced hardship or trauma during their lives, they will know it is easier to joke about them, it makes the whole thing a little bit easier to deal with and can sometimes help you start to heal. This show is for those people.

By the end, things have started to take more of a serious turn, Kit is confronting her abuser and realises he's not quite changed his ways yet.

The way Lois commands the space was honestly such a pleasure to watch. To be able to deliver that level of emotion whilst only having a pre-recorded voiceover to bounce off of was astounding and I couldn't help but cry as I watched.

The show ends how it begins, Kit is in the doctors office being assessed for her eating disorder, but this time there is no playful slut drop, no hoping she gets sent to inpatient care for the "free private chef". At the end of the show, Kit is getting better and she's happy about it.

The first song on the post-show playlist is 'Labour' by Paris Paloma.

Lois-Amber Toole is a force on stage and I cannot wait to see what she does next, whatever it is, best believe I'll be there.

Honestly I do have to give this show five stars, so here you go have them!

Keep Slaying babes <3