Ollie Maddigan's Solo Show 'The Olive Boy' is a Heart-Wrenching Love Letter to Mothers Everywhere
In his open-hearted solo show, Ollie Maddigan pays tribute to the love of his life - his late mother. With unflinching honesty and wicked wit, he tackles teenage angst, grief, and growing up in a way that's both crassly funny and profoundly moving.
Maddigan takes on the role of his 15-year-old self, running from the pain of losing his mum while trying to navigate the usual trials of adolescence. He dives headfirst into the typical teenage world, from befriending cool kids to securing strong booze for parties - but anything more serious is pushed aside until later. It's a bold move that sets the tone for a show that's equal parts reckless and vulnerable.
Director Scott Le Crass cleverly reminds us that beneath Maddigan's bravado lies an insecure teenager struggling to come to terms with his emotions. Lighting director Adam Jefferys uses green strobes to hint at the cracks beginning to form in Ollie's confidence, but Maddigan is quick to cover them up with crude jokes and self-assured humor.
However, as the show progresses, Maddigan's facade begins to crumble, and we're left facing a raw, emotional truth. His heartfelt words to his mum are beautifully delivered, accompanied by our own sniffs of sadness. It's a masterclass in vulnerability, as Maddigan invites us into his inner circle with generosity and kindness.
While the story follows a predictable arc, it's the specificity of Maddigan's experience that gives 'The Olive Boy' its strength. We fall in love with Ollie's cheeky grin, smarmy charm, and genuine sorrow - and we're invited to confront our own relationships with loss and grief. As the curtain falls on this sweet, neat performance, it leaves us feeling seen, heard, and maybe even a little bit less alone.
'The Olive Boy' is currently playing at Southwark Playhouse in London until January 31st. Don't miss it - but be sure to bring your tissues.
In his open-hearted solo show, Ollie Maddigan pays tribute to the love of his life - his late mother. With unflinching honesty and wicked wit, he tackles teenage angst, grief, and growing up in a way that's both crassly funny and profoundly moving.
Maddigan takes on the role of his 15-year-old self, running from the pain of losing his mum while trying to navigate the usual trials of adolescence. He dives headfirst into the typical teenage world, from befriending cool kids to securing strong booze for parties - but anything more serious is pushed aside until later. It's a bold move that sets the tone for a show that's equal parts reckless and vulnerable.
Director Scott Le Crass cleverly reminds us that beneath Maddigan's bravado lies an insecure teenager struggling to come to terms with his emotions. Lighting director Adam Jefferys uses green strobes to hint at the cracks beginning to form in Ollie's confidence, but Maddigan is quick to cover them up with crude jokes and self-assured humor.
However, as the show progresses, Maddigan's facade begins to crumble, and we're left facing a raw, emotional truth. His heartfelt words to his mum are beautifully delivered, accompanied by our own sniffs of sadness. It's a masterclass in vulnerability, as Maddigan invites us into his inner circle with generosity and kindness.
While the story follows a predictable arc, it's the specificity of Maddigan's experience that gives 'The Olive Boy' its strength. We fall in love with Ollie's cheeky grin, smarmy charm, and genuine sorrow - and we're invited to confront our own relationships with loss and grief. As the curtain falls on this sweet, neat performance, it leaves us feeling seen, heard, and maybe even a little bit less alone.
'The Olive Boy' is currently playing at Southwark Playhouse in London until January 31st. Don't miss it - but be sure to bring your tissues.
it's like... she's just so honest about her feelings & experiences as a kid losin her mum 
and how that affects everythin else in life 
i was laughin out loud one sec & cryin the next 
[
Ollie Maddigan's show 'The Olive Boy' is like a raw, emotional hug from your weird aunt (the one who always tells you how much she loves you even when she's being super mean). 
The way he weaves together his teenage angst and grief with humor is like trying to find the perfect meme - sometimes it's laugh-out-loud funny, other times it's just plain sad 
It's like he's trying to navigate his way through puberty and loss all at once! 
.
But what really gets me is how vulnerable he is, despite trying to cover it up with humor... it's like he's inviting us into his inner circle and sharing all his secrets 
it really hit me on a deep level. I loved how he tackled such heavy topics like grief and loss with humor, but also didn't shy away from getting emotional when it mattered most 
the way he delivered his heartfelt words to his mum gave me chills 
He's got this whole "tough guy" vibe going on, but beneath that exterior, he's just a scared kid trying to navigate the world without his mum. It's beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time 
. anyway, if you get the chance to see 'The Olive Boy', def grab tickets, but be prepared for some major feels 
. The way he talks about his mom is just so honest and heartbreaking - I was literally crying during some parts 
. But what I loved most was how it made me feel... seen? Like, I've had experiences similar to what he went through, so it was like looking into a mirror and seeing all these emotions staring back at me 
. Anyway, if you get the chance to see 'The Olive Boy', definitely take it - but grab some tissues first, trust me 
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the lighting effects were so clever, using green strobes to show his cracks 
anyway, go see 'The Olive Boy' ASAP, trust me you won't regret it... bring tissues though 
. It sounds like Ollie Maddigan is just trying to relive his own glory days and get attention from us, rather than actually sharing something profound. I mean, 15-year-old Ollie running around with booze? Come on. How does that relate to the themes of grief and growing up? Also, what's with the "we're left facing a raw, emotional truth" statement? What evidence is there that he's not just manipulating his emotions for laughs? And don't even get me started on the specificity of his experience... isn't that just code for "my life story is unique, so you should care"? Bring some credible sources to back up these claims or it sounds like a load of hot air 
he's been making waves in the UK comedy scene since 2014 and now this! 
: Ollie Maddigan has gained over 120k followers on Instagram since 2022, with an average engagement rate of 5.6%! 
also, his YouTube channel has reached over 1M subscribers and his most popular video has got 3.7M views! 
according to a study by the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 5 adults experience depression each year, with anxiety being another major concern! 
. But what really got me was when the lights dimmed and his words became super honest, it felt like I was sitting in a room with him having a chat about my own mum 
. But what really gets me is how Maddigan invites us into his inner circle with such generosity and kindness - it's like he's sharing his own private thoughts and feelings with us, and that's just...wow 
. I mean, we all know the arc, we've seen it a million times before. But seriously, it's just too formulaic for my taste. The whole 'bravado facade cracking' thing has been done to death. And don't even get me started on the overuse of emotional manipulation 
. Still, I guess the heartbreak factor might draw in some audiences