HAVING overcome the trauma of bulimia, depression and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Liz Bentley has turned her experiences into a new one-woman show.

She credits therapy for helping her get through the difficult times in her life and is now a trained therapist herself.

She also channelled her personal experiences into her stage performance, which incorporates comedy, poetry and music on her Casio keyboard and ukulele.

Liz, 46, who has been performing for eight years and has had three shows at the Edinburgh Festival, is coming to the Colchester Arts Centre with her show Crash Bash Trash!

She says: “I had relationship issues when I was growing up. I am not blaming my parents or anyone, but I was not happy and didn’t know how to deal with it.

“I had an eating disorder from 16, but at that time no one knew what it was or what to do about it, so I felt quite alone.

“I was diagnosed with MS in my twenties and there was a period where I was practically disabled and unemployed for seven years. The therapy opened something up in me and I started writing poetry.”

Once Liz started writing poetry, she found a creative outlet she enjoyed and quickly put music to her poems, then began performing.

Liz says: “I have always been musical and played flute and piano, so that came easily, but the humour in my work came as a complete surprise.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first performed and everyone laughed – I liked it because it meant I was entertaining them, even if it wasn’t intentional.”

Liz, who grew up in Rayleigh, believes her work evolved with time.

She says: “I am more open to talking about myself and relationships. I have started getting recognition as a performer and I don’t see any reason why I would stop.

“I have a fiance, two children, a job and I perform, but I am very good at time management now and know my limits.”

Liz decided to go to psychotherapy at 23 and this allowed her to fight her demons and find a new direction in life.

She trained as a counsellor and now works as a therapist.

Crash Bash Trash! is at Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, on Thursday, February 24 at 7pm. Tickets are £5 from 01206 500900.