The Trauma Troopers:

The Memory box

Ryan North explores the symptoms of ADHD while sorting through his possessions in his mum’s attic. Inspired by Dora Violet’s ADHD The Musical, we layer costume, props and set in this experimental journey through Ryan’s life to understand him better. It is a celebration of neurodiversity while bringing awareness to the struggles through comedy and interpretive acts of auto-fiction.

Ellie Russell, Director, Co-Creator & Stage Hand.

I am a DTA student that has experience in musical theatre. I have an interest in music, photography and sound design. I wanted to take a more directorial role in our TM3 project, exploring how to use the equipment and space provided as well as how to tell the story of Richard’s ADHD effectively and ironically. Many people are discovering later in life they have a neurological condition and so me and Richard wanted to pay homage to this and how it makes the memories of our past clearer, but by making the writing humorous the audience have a chance to laugh along with us in this journey. I have enjoyed working with Richard in exploring this concept and it has opened up a new love for directing that I hope to take on professionally.  

Richard West, Ryan & Co-Creator

I am a theatre-maker with interests in sound design and multi-sensory experiences. I was diagnosed with ADHD in August 2024 after 4 years of speculation. In December 2024, I explored the bad parts of ADHD: time-blindness, messy room, bad sleep schedule, and burnout. That is what I was dealing with at the time, so it made sense to make a performance to express myself. This year, I’m feeling much better, so this performance is a show of personal and artistic development, with thanks to Ellie for harnessing the strengths of neurodiversity.

With thanks to: 

 Technical team of Goldsmiths Theatre and Performance Department: Joe Fairweather Hole, Emily Mead, Nao Nagai, Chloe Kenward, Patrick Furness, Berthe Fortin  

Tutors of TM3 Projects + directors of TAP OUT 26: Alexa Reid and Marie-Gabrielle Rotie 

Mo Cole – Sound operator and technical coordinator 

Luke Hipkin – Lighting operator 

Cadon Richards 

 Front of House team 

Credits: 

‘Illegal’ by PinkPantheress 

‘Stateside’ by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson 

‘Creep’ by Radiohead 

‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran 

‘I’m Just Ken’ from Barbie 

‘Greased Lightning’ from Grease 

‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion 

‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift 

‘Macarena’ by Los Del Rio  

A monologue from ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare 

Clips from:   

Heartstopper Season 1 Episodes 4 + 8 

Notting Hill  

After 

Holidate 

Just Married 

Dash & Lily Episode 8 

High School Musical 2 

Madagascar 

 

‘Memories of You’ by The Ink Spots 

‘It’s Been A Long, Long Time’ by Kitty Kallen 

‘I Don’t Want to Set The World On Fire’ by The Ink Spots