Written and performed by Gail Thomas
A dark, solo comedy about dating, cancer & medical psychedelics
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL
ZOO PLAYGROUND
AUGUST 7-30TH, 2026 (except 17th & 25th)
14:20
Press contact:
🍄 I got rid of all the toxic people and there was no one left
🍄 I got rid of all the toxic people and there was no one left
The Show
Chronically single, Gail Thomas has always been good at staying busy, setting boundaries and avoiding intimacy. That is, until a scary diagnosis makes her realize that she might just need to slow down, chill out, and get some help. But, who can she trust? “I got rid of all the toxic people and there was no one left.”
This true. dark comedy solo show tracks Gail’s quest to find the line between herself and others after a cancer diagnosis and her participation as patient #13 in a ground-breaking FDA study that gave psilocybin (magic mushrooms) to cancer patients with anxiety and depression. The study has blazed a trail for the potential legalization of the psychedelics for use as a medical treatment.
Gail has been interviewed by the New York Times, The New Yorker (Michael Pollan), Le Monde Magazine, VSauce, and CNN+, Psychologies, and beyond.
2025 Winner of LA Progressive and LA Hidden Gems Awards
Short Promo Videos
One minute clip with reviews
Two minute. clips and interview
🍄 No one wants to date a bald girl
🍄 No one wants to date a bald girl
Reviews
“Patient 13 is infused with this warm, conversational quality, a down-home, honest, and lived in feel, genuinely friendly in a way that can feel revolutionary in Los Angeles....Gail Thomas is a born storyteller. More than that, she makes you feel like her best friend in seconds...This is a show that is not afraid of darkness, but for all its talk of death, depression, anxiety and medical nightmares, it has something quirky and uplifting about it, and the comedy really lands... It is always a pleasure to see a fresh, bold personal story that is, quite simply, about telling a true story.
“I was in awe of Thomas’s ability to deliver the scipt: the excellent writing, the performing of it, the timing....It’s extremely funny and shocking too. We were all nodding at the parts of ourselves we recognized in Thomas, and the gratitude for this gift of her story burst forth from the crowd when she uttered her final words.”
“Gail Thomas, a Moth Story SLAM winner, has a winning way and a lot of shocking details. From “defensive dating” to a string of doctors, this is a story of a strong woman who kicked cancer and got rid of the toxic people in her life. Thomas reminds us all to participate fully in life, to trust and let go. And she leaves you wondering where you can get your hands on some psilocybin.”
“Gail Thomas is a poignant storyteller … constantly (although never frenetically) moving around the space, so that although this is a solo show, the production never becomes boring. Patient 13 is engagingly performed throughout. A moving ... always entertaining one-woman show that dares delve into taboo topics typically overlooked by romcoms. Artistically acted .”
“….Throughout, Thomas is magnetic and engaging in her intensity and candor…PATIENT 13 is a masterclass in storytelling, and how sometimes, a chair and a stage is all you need.”
“…Her performance in PATIENT 13 is a gripping roller coaster ride of emotions. As she skillfully recounts her story, I am in awe of her perseverance and impressed by her resilience. I was deeply moved witnessing her standing ovation, seeing the tears of joy streaming down her face… Go for the story and leave with Hope.”
“...this canny author manages to turn her fears and black thoughts into a very funny glimpse at just how ridiculous life can sometimes turn out...Gail Thomas does a fantastic job of telling her poignant story, all the while poking fun at her own actions and reactions... PATIENT 13 entertains while asking thought-provoking questions and memories which will linger long after the show is over.”
“I’ve interviewed a lot of people and Gail’s psychedelic trip report definitely stands out!”
— Michael Pollan, Author of How to Change Your Mind, The Omnivore’s Dilemma
Thomas’s narrative balances humor and pathos, making us reflect on our own lives and relationships. Her solo performance format amplifies the intimacy of the story, drawing us into the protagonist’s internal struggles and epiphanies. “Patient 13” not only entertains but also challenges societal norms about medical treatment and mental health, encouraging a reevaluation of how we perceive and address these issues.
— James Scarborough, What the Butler Saw, An LA Arts Magazine
🍄 Tripping Legally with FDA Approval
🍄 Tripping Legally with FDA Approval
Research Papers about Gail’s clinical Study
12):1165-1180. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675512. By Stephen Ross, Anthony Bossis, Jeffrey Guss, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Krystallia Kalliontzi + https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909164/
June 14, 2017 Stephen Ross +
About Gail Thomas
I’m mission-driven, using my skills as a writer, lawyer, actor, filmmaker, storyteller, and storytelling coach, to help people connect, trust, love themselves.
I’m is a Moth SLAM winner, and have also performed at RISK!, Story Collider, The Crow, etc. Voiceover credits include John Cameron Mitchell’s Anthem: Homunculus, Angelo Rules, David Letterman, Beavis and Butthead, as well as video games, commercials and movies. Did a thing on Law &Order SVU. My home grown, short comedy, My BFF, won audience favorite at NYC New Filmmakers. I’ve written for smart, famous, lovely people.
I love helping people find and share their true personal stories as a storytelling coach for Practical Storytelling, and a freelance copywriter/editor, and speechwriter.
🍄 I've got cancer on my uterus, Wanna split some nachos?
🍄 I've got cancer on my uterus, Wanna split some nachos?
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