Old Fat F**k Up follows an exhausted father buckling under financial and emotional pressure, living with his partner and two children in a cramped ex-council flat. With pressures taking their toll, the play culminates in one shattering act of violence against his son – forcing a confrontation with responsibility, failure, and what it means to be a man today
Olly Hawes is an incredible story teller. Switching from intense and dramatic to cheerful and personable in a heartbeat. The story he tells is emotional and poignant. We’re on his journey and we feel his pain that comes from the pressure of his job, his responsibilities in regard to his family, and the love and irritation with his children.
There is a lot of adult humour. Talk of penises, willies, toilets, wanking……..and in the final two scenes a rubber willy is sticking out of his underwear. I’m probably too old to enjoy this style of humour but most of the audience were laughing. I’m also never comfortable in a theatre with traverse seating – I don’t like seeing half the audience and don’t like that they can see me. I much prefer to hide in the back of a dark auditorium and watch the performance.
Simple lighting, no technical operator, no set to talk of, not really a costume, no props – just a man and a mic.
Many of the issues raised are important. They’re uncomfortable and do need discussion. His character is portrayed as a man who is isolated, who can’t talk to his mates down the pub about his feelings, not about anything that matters. He can’t apologise and he certainly can’t admit he can’t cope. He acknowledges he’s made mistakes, long term consequences, but he doesn’t know what to do about this. He hopes his actions are insignificant. What you see clearly here is a man who doesn’t really know his strength and power and how frightening that can be until it’s too late.
Old Fat F**k will be at Riverside Studios over 25 performances until 20th December. Ticket link HERE.