Writer and performer Beth Wants the D will make its London premiere at Pleasance London this October following a critically acclaimed and award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Written and performed by American podcast host and actor Beth May, the autobiographical dark comedy draws on her own experiences of living with bipolar disorder, offering a candid and often humorous exploration of mental illness, treatment and recovery.
The one-woman show begins with Beth standing on the edge of a bridge contemplating ending her life before taking audiences on an episodic journey through key moments from her teenage years to the present day.
Through personal stories of medication, hospitalisation and relationships, the production examines the realities of living with bipolar disorder while challenging the stigma that often surrounds serious mental illness.
Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, Beth Wants the D received the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award, recognising creative work that challenges mental health stigma and encourages important conversations.
After its London performances, the show will also return to Edinburgh as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.
Beth May said: “Last year I had the time of my life bringing Beth Wants the D to Edinburgh Fringe, and I’m beyond excited to share a dark, silly, and hopefully very important story with more people. My hope is that audiences will see that my humanity is not diminished or negated by my mental illness and find a better understanding of what serious mental illness can look like. I think this show makes the case that even when things are so bleak and even when you feel like you’re completely nuts, you can come back from this. Call me crazy…but I think that’s a message worth spreading.”
The production has already earned strong reviews, with Binge Fringe describing it as “Deep, educational and heart-breaking, while still remaining laugh-out-loud and hopeful”, while Edinburgh Guide called it “Witty, honest, uplifting – and unflinchingly human – it proves that sometimes the bravest punchline is surviving to tell it.”
Directed by Riley Rose Critchlow and produced by Alison Zatta, Beth Wants the D runs at Pleasance London on 23 and 24 October 2026.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
