Priscilla Queen of the Disaster

Priscilla Queen of the Disaster is a heart-wrenching, side-splitting, laugh-and-cry-a-minute, one-woman comedy/ drama show. An incredibly honest and frank true story about the realities of parenting, all told by mother and natural storyteller, Susie. 

Have you ever felt scared to admit that you found parenting really hard? Or maybe even realised very quickly that there are no number of books or blogs you can read, or advice you can receive that will ever prepare you for the responsibility? There is no training, it’s all very learned on the job and the responsibility hits like a bus. 

Susie loves her children, is grateful and finds parenting fun as she’s constantly laughing and understands that being a mother to her boys is a privilege but, she is not perfect and is often left wondering if she is enough. 

This show connects us all through the best and worst parts of being a parent, as Susie abandons the idea of only showing the best bits and pretending, she is okay when she is in fact not. She is raising human beings, so it is probably best that she shows up as one, and not as a robot who only feels the good stuff and continuously highlights the positives. In an attempt to prepare her children for future life, which is nothing like the flawless childhood we have been conditioned to believe we must provide, this phenomenal show cuts through the conditioning, the societal expectation and shares a very real story of motherhood, which is nothing like Susie expected – THANK GOODNESS! 

About It’s OK Susie

Susie Corcoran is a storyteller – it’s just her thing. Whether it be through her one-woman show Priscilla Queen of the Disaster, her blog (www.itsokaysusie.com), or her podcast. 

Susie is here to share the best and worst bits of life and how she navigates her way through all the chaos thrown at her. She has found that sharing is her way of connecting to others and that connection is her highest value. 

Susie is here to help, as a qualified life coach, she can support you to step into your power, find purpose and help you live the life you dream of. 

Susie hopes that her stories can help get you through your day a little easier, make you feel a little less alone or at the very least make you smile. 

If we share the s••t, we might all feel a bit better!

 Praise for Priscilla Queen of the Disaster

“It was a hilarious yet heart-breaking performance”

“Thanks for sharing a very special performance with us. Priscilla Queen of the Disaster was hilarious, yet heart-breaking performance, which we were all proud to debut at Harlow Playhouse. It was honest, raw, and funny, and feedback from audiences proved how personable, likeable, and impactful the show was as a wide”. 

 -       Roy Davies, Executive and Artistic Director at Harlow Playhouse. 

“It will take you everything you have to stop the tears falling”

 “… with Susie’s charisma, you can’t help but be swept up in the moment – feeling more like you’re sitting in her living room than in an auditorium. And just like a mate, she’ll have you belly laughing about a fart in a yoga class, and when she tells you what it’s like sitting on the kitchen floor – it’ll take you everything you have to stop those tears falling down your cheeks. Priscilla Queen of the Disaster leaves you feeling like you’ve been punched in the gut and simultaneously given a new lease of life” 

-       Emily Parsley, Technical & Projects Manager at Harlow Playhouse

An interview with writer & artist Susie Corcoran. 

What is Priscilla Queen of the Disaster about? 

Priscilla is my story all about motherhood, the real story, not the curated version online, the best bits, the worst bits, the struggles, the pressure, the guilt, and the joy. It’s a comedy about the predicaments we find ourselves in as mothers and it’s also an honest account on how isolating it can be, how life changing it is and how there is no preparation for it. 

Who would love Priscilla? 

I think mothers, parents, new and more experienced but also anyone who has been through something life changing, who wants to come along and laugh with each other about how ridiculous life can be. It’s a story about overcoming obstacles, about connection and about the importance of sharing the truth about our stories to feel less alone. We will laugh and cry together and come away having taken some time for ourselves to recognise that life can be really hard and also find the comedy in those moments which in turn builds our resilience in them. 

In one sentence, what should the audience expect? 

To laugh and cry along with an honest account of motherhood in all its glory, hopefully feeling less alone by the end. 

What inspired the creation of Priscilla? 

I became a mother at a time when people were sharing more online about their experiences. And I wasn’t having that same experience. I didn’t see anyone being honest about the birth, who was struggling to cope with the massive change, who lost their patience, who had never quiet felt enough for their kids. I knew I loved my kids; I knew I was incredibly privileged to have them, and I was and remain incredibly grateful for them, but also, I didn’t know that I could feel all those things and I find it really hard. So, I started to write about it, initially just for me, then as a blog and with a nudge from some people I work with in theatre, I built the show with the help of some incredible people. I wanted people to laugh at the absurdity of it all, because I know and acknowledge that helps me cope, laughing at the struggles is my best coping strategy.  

But also, I found myself in a position I didn’t think I would with my family, and I thought that was something I wanted to share, for me but also for anyone else out there who has struggled to know they are enough and always have been. 

What’s your back story? 

Before Priscilla, I worked and continue to work in theatre. But also, alongside that I was a dancer and comic in those shows. I spent a decade doing that before I had the kids. 

What’s your favourite part of the show?

My favourite part would be the connections made. There is something really special that happens when you allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your story, your wins, and perceived failures. In the current culture of parents, it can be very judgemental, and we can often find ourselves defending our decisions, but I feel like sharing it all, it connects parents in a way that I have found to be incredibly important. Also, in today’s culture we tend to share the very best moments of our lives through social media etc and whilst those things are lovely, I have found in sharing the mishaps, the struggles, and the guilt, it connects us all far more. Because we all know social media is heavily curated, filtered moment and cannot represent motherhood in its entirety or even more than just one snapshot, yet even I still find myself feeling like I am falling short because of that comparison. 

So, my favourite part is chatting to people after, either in person or over social media we get to share our stories and I get to listen to their stories. It encourages other people to share, and I feel like there is no other more significant first step in looking after our mental health than chatting about it all first. 

What happens in post-show discussion? 

We all chat, about the story and I answer questions people may have and I listen to other’s people stories. There are some heavier themes to some parts of the show in terms of mental health and the discussion allows us all a moment to process it all, any things which may come up for the audience member and should they need anything else, like continued support I can connect and then either help myself or point them in the direction of resources which could help. 

What’s the main message of Priscilla? 

That you are not alone, nor are you in competition with anyone else to be the perfect parent. In fact, the perfect parent doesn’t exist. That by saying it’s hard doesn’t mean you love your kids any less, it means you are human and the demands on parents are relentless. That you are enough and always have been despite what society or anyone else has told you. And that laughing about the ridiculousness that is parenting and motherhood is key. It helps you fill your cup a little, only adding to the parent you are and connects you to others, which I think might be the whole purpose of life. 

Priscilla Queen of the Disaster takes to the stage Friday, 2^nd December 2022. For further information (including full list of prices and concessions available), and to book tickets, please contact Box Office on 01874 611 622 where a member of our Theatr Brycheiniog’s Visitor Experience Team will be more than happy to help. You can also book online and view all upcoming performances and events, 24/7 at www.brycheiniog.co.uk