OCD ME, a one-woman show about living with obsessive compulsive disorder, will be performed at Nuns’ Island Theatre next weekend as part of Galway Theatre Festival. Written and directed by Aisling Smith it’s being performed by Laura Whelan, both of whom are graduates of NUIG – now University of Galway

OCD Me is an autobiographical play, which “gives an honest but fun account” of Aisling’s experience of the condition, according to its creator.

It’s central character,, Sarah was diagnosed with OCD a decade ago. She’s been managing it pretty well, but still finds it tricky to live in a world that tells you to ‘follow your gut’, when your gut is telling you to touch the door handle 64 times.

She wants to share her story and let people know that there’s more to the condition than the stereotypes we see on TV, who are obsessed with handwashing (although in Sarah’s case handwashing is part of it).

OCD Me reveals one person’s experience of the condition as it seeks to combat the misunderstanding and misappropriation around the disorder.

Aisling Smith was clinically diagnosed with OCD in 2008. Writing this play took a while but she finally did it during Covid, with the support of an Arts Council grant, she adds.

Laura Whelan, who plays Sarah, has a BA in commerce from NUIG (UG) and worked in marketing in Dublin and the USA until 2020, when she decided to pursue acting. She trained at Dublin’s Bow Street Academy for Screen Acting, and with Flying Turtle, among other places and has gone on to perform with Flying Turtle.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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