Following on from the success of F**king Legend, creative Olly Hawes returns with his new one man show, Old Fat F**k Up, a show that addresses toxic masculinity, fatherhood, and feeling unfulfilled as you reach middle age.
Old Fat F**k Up tells the story of a middle age father of two, with a third child on the way. He is exhausted, buckling under crippling financial pressure, and just wants to be able to enjoy a wee in peace without a million questions from his kids. Olly is quick to stress that this is a work of fiction but later reveals that elements are part-autobiographical.
Throughout the performance, we see his frustration and turmoil grow as the complexities of modern life take its toll, especially when he and his family pluck up the courage to visit his parents to see if they’ll lend him money so they can stay in their tiny flat. A series of events unfold, culminating in the man committing an act of violence against his son, leading to immense guilt from the man’s perspective.
The setting for this performance is very stripped back, with Olly, dressed in blood-soaked clothing, parading back and forth along a catwalk-style stage with the audience sat on either side. There’s no big production element here, and the performer narrates throughout as if we were watching a six-part Netflix series.
Olly is undoubtedly an emotive and captivating storyteller, and at time it really does feel as if we’re watching that highly sought after Netflix series. He vividly paints the scene, describing each location and the events taking place. He also has a unique style of performance, combining storytelling with confession and stand-up, but this can sometimes confuse the message he is trying to get across.
The show is part comedic but mostly dark, and at times incredibly unsettling. Whilst the production is incredibly gripping in places, it falls a little flat elsewhere. There is a particular scene where Olly is at the pub with a friend, and envisions the type of conversation that he would like to have, where he says goodbye to toxic masculinity and truly opens up about what’s bothering him. However, what actually transpires is him continuing to bottle up his feelings.
This leads into a scene where Olly has seemingly turned his life around – he’s lost weight, gained that Netflix series, and is making big bucks. However, it’s soon unveiled that this is all part of a very weird sex dream (which also involves AOC – USA politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and we’re left sat looking at Olly in his underwear, complete with a prosthetic hanging out. Whilst this made the audience chuckle, personally it felt like a ‘shock factor’ element for the sake of it, rather than successfully conveying a message.
Old Fat F**k Up covers some incredibly important themes, especially in this day and age, and whilst there were elements which were truly engaging and thought provoking, it didn’t quite hit the mark overall. The pub scene could have been a pivotal turning point in this piece and perhaps should have ended there (albeit with a slightly different outcome).
What should be noted is that Olly is indeed a very brave performer, and often chilling in his depiction of a man who is truly at his wits end. Switching between using a mic and not is a very effective way of showcasing different characters and emotions, and he does this effortlessly. There were times where watching his frustration build up was truly breathtaking. Whilst it’s not perfect (but then again, what in life is?), Old Fat F**k Up definitely sparks an uncomfortable yet important conversation around toxic masculinity.
Old Fat F**k Up will be at Riverside Studios over 25 performances until 20th December – remaining tickets available here. Olly’s original show F**king Legend will also be playing for a limited number of shows – check dates and availability here.
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Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Content warnings: Strong language, sexual references, descriptions of violence, discussion of mental health, and the use of adult and physical prosthetics