PREVIEW: Alice Ella: Chronically Sick, Hormonal Slag at Komedia Studio, Brighton
Performer Alice Ella brings a one-woman cabaret and variety show, Alice Ella: Chronically Sick, Hormonal Slag, to Brighton Fringe next month with a clear mix of chaos, candour and sharp self-awareness. Blending stand-up, original songs and parody, the show draws directly on her lived experience of chronic illness, covering ME, PMDD, ADHD, IBS and POTS with a tone that veers from surreal to disarmingly honest.
There’s a deliberate irreverence at play when Ella leans into the absurdity of navigating a body that doesn’t behave, turning symptoms into punchlines and frustration into something performative and unruly. The result is a piece that sits somewhere between cabaret and confessional, with a knowingly provocative edge that refuses to sanitise women’s health or disability.
Directed by Veronica Von Beaverhausen, the show builds on Ella’s growing profile, and following appearances on Channel 4’s The Last Leg, a runner-up spot at the Brighton Girl Awards, and a substantial online following. What’s notable is the attempt to stretch beyond short-form content into a full-length live show, bringing together advocacy, comedy and performance into one space.
Alice Ella: Chronically Sick, Hormonal Slag is messy by design, reflecting the realities it explores: the unpredictability of chronic illness, the gaps in how women’s health is understood, and the tension between vulnerability and humour. Expect audience interaction, strong language and moments that tip into the deliberately ridiculous.
For audiences interested in disability-led performance that doesn’t soften its edges and in a musical comedy format, this offers something direct, unfiltered and personal. Give it a try!
Details
Alice Ella: Chronically Sick, Hormonal Slag plays at Komedia Studio
Venue: Komedia Studio, 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton
Tickets: Tickets are priced at £8, with £6 concessions and 2-for-1 offers available.
Dates: Alice Ella: Chronically Sick, Hormonal Slag plays on 5th, 11th and 18th May at 8pm.
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