A Sudden Disturbing To Do List

Festival on The Close presents
A Sudden Disturbing To Do ListPhoebe is 28, a journalist, has OCD and is the queen of lists. On her fridge, on her mirror, all over her hands andeverywhere basically.Her favourite lists are: 1) shopping, 2) favourite stationary, 3) least favourite numbers, 4) past jobs ranked in order of wanting to staple her earlobes to the table, 5) the missed opportunities folder in her emails.Shes pretty sure keeping them is her healthiest habit, propelling her on towards being the most productive, best version of herself. So when her lists are spawning lists and lists and lists and becoming an overwhelming listathon, and a giant fluffy monster appears at the kitchen table and starts spooning her while she sleeps: shes sure there isnt a problem.Phoebe wonders if she needs her space: but the monster is a really good cook, plus they do all her washing for her. So why is she suddenly listing all the ways she might die?1. A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List is a show mostly revolving around lists but also tackles themes of2. toxic work ethic,3. OCD, and4. mental health.5. This is a show for anyone whos ever put shower on their to do list.Biographies
Eleanor May Blackburn
Eleanor is a neurodivergent, disabled, working class, queer actor/writer/theatre-maker/poet from Sheffield. Her first full collection of poetry Sleeve Heart was released in 2025 by Stairwell Books. Eleanor is a supported artist of Sheffield Theatres, associate artist of Grimm and Co and trustee of A Creative Transformation: a brain injury charity focusing on art and storytelling to change lives. She has written, performed and produced 3 autobiographical (and semi- autobiographical) solo shows: Subdural Hematoma, Does My Fanny Look Big in This? and A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List. Subdural Hematoma had a successful ACE funded northern tour and DMFLBIT sold out The Crucible Playhouse in January after headlining the Leeds Poetry Fest, Edinburgh Fringe and a country-wide tour. A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List is her 3rd solo show about mental health, which performed a 2 week run in August at the Edinburgh Fringe after a sold out preview at Barnsley Civic. She performed the full run at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 in Apartness with Sylvester McCoy and played the lead in feature film Bonnie and Clive that was released in 2024. In April 2025 she had an ACE funded 2 week R&D at Sheffield Theatres for her first full length multi-character play Virtuous with a room completely comprised of female creatives, concluding in a sold out sharing at the Lyceum. She has been shortlisted for the Leeds Playhouse Script Window 2026 with Virtuous. Eleanor recently starred in the Royal Ballet & Operas Tales Untapped: A Rotherham Opera and played the lead in JW Theatres The Devils Game.Emily Browning
Emily is an award-winning theatre director and Associate Artist at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton, where she has been working as an assistant director alongside directing at the University of Northampton. She graduated from the University of Durham in 2024, during which time she directed and produced shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in both 2023 and 2024. Alongside this, she was awarded the Buzz Goodbody Directing Award at the 2024 National Student Drama Festival and Best Director at the Durham Drama Festival in 2024. She is thoroughly enjoying collaborating with Ellie on A Sudden Disturbing To Do List, an exciting new piece of theatre which received wonderful appraisal at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Emily is especially interested in creating politically engaging work that champions emerging voices and her work has been described as brimming with humour, style and immense directorial confidence.Running Time: 60 mins
Age Guidance: 12+All artists are subject to availability and may change.
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