Currently playing at the State Theatre Centre, I Watched Someone Die on TikTok, is an absurd, semi-standup special written by, and starring Charlotte Otton. It is a hilarious, vicious, and depressing look into the modern state of the internet and how the absolute abundance of graphic and intense media online has shaped so many minds.
A powerpoint, a mic stand, and a ring light is all that is used to take us through the gory history of all things Charlotte was exposed to in her early days on the internet. From penises of strangers to just straight up snuff films we understand how the internet has impacted her, and millions of other’s, brains. Peaking in emotional highs we are often left in long intense moments of hearing TikTok audios of 911 calls detailing gruesome murders. All being motivated by a TikTok Charlotte saw some years ago at 7:30am on the train of a young girl struggling for breath, I Watched Someone Die on TikTok, doesn’t attempt to ridicule or shame those who spend hours on the internet or try and point at any one thing as the issue.
I Watched Someone Die on Tiktok. Photography by Sophie Minissale.
I always am cautious going into shows that attempt to unpack what is wrong with the internet or technology in general because they usually fall into the same category of just “Technology bad, theatre good.” But I was so happy to see the nuance Charlotte used to unpack how just wild the almost infinite amount of media we are exposed to seems to just be a natural continuation of the ever expanding online world and how we are just simply not ready for this. I found this all intensely relatable, as someone who had pretty unfettered access to the internet, as early as probably 6-7 years old, the specific references, the feelings of doom, and the chase of dopamine are all too real.
Charlotte has amazing comedic chops and commands the stage with outstanding presence, a tight 60 minutes that feels like you’ve been smacked over the head with someone’s frontal lobe, in a good way. I can imagine someone who may not be as chronically online as most people our age not coming away with as much, but just the performance and analytical look at something so prevalent in most people’s lives is worth a watch.
I Watched Someone Die on TikTok is on at Rehearsal Room 1 at State Theatre Centre of WA until Jan 25.