ADHD is no laughing matter.
But for Trafford-based comedian and musician Edy Hurst, it’s provided the material for a new one-man show which he hopes will show an audience the inner-workings of his neurodivergent mind.
Hurst’s latest show, Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie Of Witches In The Countie Of Himself, draws on his ancestral links to the Lancashire Witch Trials – using absurdist humour and a splash of The Vengaboys to give the audience a glimpse into an ADHD mind.
He said: “I want to show what it’s like to get this diagnosis and realise it’s not as simple as you thought.”
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
In Britain it has only been recognised in adults from 2008, and currently affects over 2.5million people.
After premiering a snippet of his new show at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Hurst says reading a few articles which, “in bad faith”, criticised neurodiversity’s take-over of the comedy festival and warned of the danger of artists trivialising or misrepresenting conditions.
Hurst said his show does not seek to be an educational resource – but a glimpse into his own neurodiversity – with his newly-confirmed ADHD simply the foundation upon which the rest of the show was built.
He said: “We’ve had less than two decades of adults being able to get ADHD diagnoses.
“That’s had major impacts on people’s lives so obviously there’s going to be a new big bunch of people telling their experiences – especially in comedy.
“We should be welcoming of people with different thought processes.”
Hurst was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 after a period of self-reflection during the pandemic era.
He said: “I had always thought my struggle with creative fulfilment was due to life’s pressures.
“I was sure that given a hypothetical period of time where I had nothing to do but create, the problem wouldn’t exist.
“But then that happened, and the struggle didn’t stop.
“I knew the common denominator was me.”
Hurst’s reason for actively seeking self-discovery at this time was the birth of his daughter.
He said: “The way I am no longer affects just me.
“If I can better understand myself and things to support me, I need to be aware of that as a parent.”
The ever-rising influx of adult ADHD diagnoses – especially in the last decade – has provided affirmation and information to previously misunderstood neurodivergent people like Hurst.
Yet he sees his diagnosis as a “double-edged sword”.
He said: “The clarity of the diagnosis and access to medication is a relief.
“But waiting times can be long and medication is not a cure-all silver bullet.
“Self-criticism is hard to escape when I am aware of myself repeating mistakes and re-learning the same lessons.”
Hurst hopes that neurodivergent people sharing their experiences will increase awareness and promote understanding- but he is mindful of the current “kickback” against these conversations.
He said: “Whilst it’s great more people are becoming aware, it isn’t always positive.
“Stereotypes and stigmas misunderstand the condition, not helped by outrage journalism.
He added: “Society has always struggled to understand different ways of thinking, both persecuting and romanticising the unorthodox.
“I’m hopeful that my daughter is growing up in a different world, one where society is increasingly open to understanding neurodivergence.”
Before taking on a full-run at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe, Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie Of Witches In The Countie Of Himself , is coming to Trafford’s Waterside venue for a unique night of revelation, mysticism, and theatrics on March 21.
Feature image: Andy Hollingworth Archive c/o Edy Hurst
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