★★★★
Pip Dawson was only diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) later in her life, a common experience, particularly amongst women. Throughout her one woman show Character Flaw, she dispels myths, voices her frustrations and speaks candidly about her experiences living as a neurodivergent woman.
Dawson has a joyous presence and is a great storyteller as she walks us through a series of anecdotes and stories about how her life to date has been impacted as a result of her ADHD. Dawson talks openly and honestly, focusing on the word “deficit” in the piece, highlighting the toll this has taken upon her mental health as she struggles to not just focus on the negative connotations immediately derived from the word.
She works through an impressive range of material in the short run time, packing in a good mix of thorough research as she uses definitions to back up her points. Dawson does a great job at educating as well as entertaining and although her experience will not be universal, you are certain to come away from this show feeling as though you have been granted access to a glimpse of the mind of someone living with ADHD.
Humour underpins a great deal of the piece, which acts as a clear coping mechanism for the adversity she faces. Although the many anecdotes make for a humorous dinner party joke—such as the time she fell asleep whilst at somebody else’s house while leaving the bath running and flooded the house—you can see that lying beneath the laughter is distress and anxiety.
What these funny stories also do, is highlight symptoms of ADHD not so widely discussed, one of which being Rejection Sensitivity Disorder (RSD). Dawson clearly wants to win us over, and viscerally shows us this through her eye contact and intense interaction with us. However, again, she lets us see the person struggling every day to do the “right” thing beneath the mask she holds up to the world.
Dawson is joined by a voice over named Jean throughout the piece, who is the grating voice inside of their head which cleverly acts as a very visceral and clear invitation to experience and understand what some people with ADHD have to experience daily.
Living with ADHD has clearly not been an easy ride for Dawson, but ultimately, you come away from this show feeling positive. This is a show for anyone who wants to learn more about what it is can be like to live with ADHD and you are bound to leave better educated, more empathetic and for some people undoubtedly more seen.
For so many people with ADHD, they are told they have ‘their head in the clouds’ but are not taken seriously. But ADHD isn’t a TikTok trend, or something to be positive about all the time, it is a very real disorder that impacts many people’s day to day lives.
Pip is an explosion of honesty and a very real, colourful bundle of human complexity. Her energy is truly infectious and is a great example of how theatre can be utilised to open conversations and personify complex issues. An inspiring piece overall, showing us how it is our ‘flaws’ that make up who we are and how every inch of us should be embraced.
Character Flaw is playing on the Clover Stage at Underbelly until as a part of Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
Words by Abbie James
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