A critique of social media and its addictive nature, DOOMSCROLL TILL I DIE is a performance that contains multitudes of creative talent, political nuance and — of course — comedy.
Featuring just a six-person cast, this show charts Yash (Yash Kutty) first being given a phone, his eventual desire to escape the internet, and his realisation that this is almost impossible. Complementing this were sharp re-enactments of TikTok trends, musical numbers, and a healthy dose of boob jokes.
The performance involved frequent audience participation — for example, participants are recruited for a ‘Take Me Out’ inspired segment. Whilst undoubtedly keeping the audience on their toes, this also made me question the role of audience engagement and interactions both online and in person. In a world increasingly obsessed with views, shares, and likes, what remains authentic and what is fabricated? In another scene, Yash is desperate to speak to a girl he likes at school (played by Jorja Barraclough) but relies on advice from his misguided friends on how to speak to her. Whilst this is arguably a tale as old as time, the way these scenes are interrupted by the characters needing a ‘scroll break’ raises questions about how interpersonal relationships are developing today.
DOOMSCROLL TILL I DIE also perfectly encapsulates the overwhelming and relentless nature of social media — a narrative which is often missing from similar conversations. Exploring Yash trying to find something to capture his attention, audiences are reminded of the dangers of different cultures found online. From manosphere influencers, to ‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos (often implicitly promoting eating disorders) to light-hearted dance routines, this performance reiterates how much information is available to us, and how scary this is.
At the start of the performance, every cast member except Yash wears a pink ruff with matching pink eyeshadow. Before he is enveloped in the world of social media, none of these stifling adornments exist. But by the end, Yash’s eyeshadow is the brightest, and his ruff the newest. DOOMSCROLL TILL I DIE asks us if this oversaturated and emotionally filtered online world is one we are truly happy to be living in, and it should absolutely be on any what-to-watch list this Fringe.
DOOMSCROLL TILL I DIE is running until 31 August at Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard. Buy tickets here.
Image by Em Hardy, provided to The Student for press use.
