The Olive Boy
Entering The Little space at Southwark Playhouse you instantly become aware of the stark, maybe somewhat clinical, fluorescent lighting effect “welcoming” us into the auditorium. With a single chair centre stage, it feels somewhat clinical and – as we are to find out as the show progresses – it is.
Enter writer/ performer Ollie Maddigam. He portrays his 15-year-old, younger self. Cocky, fun, in charge of his world – or at least it appears this way on the outside. You instantly warm to him; he’s funny, cheeky, willing to break the 4th wall, or did we break that by coming into his space? He is The Olive Boy – so nicked named by his mum because when he was born, he was green (not in a Wicked way but as a bi-product of birth complications).
We soon hear how special the bond between The Olive Boy and his mum was. She’s a single parent and they are inseparable – until she dies, leaving The Olive Boy to live with his biological, but estranged dad.
Powerful lighting cues help us realise we are in the counselling room, listening to him narrate his experiences. In this space Ollie is able to take us to his happy places which appear to grow bigger every moment. His story telling is vivid. You are with him on every part of his journey and his portrayal is laugh-out-loud funny, but of course you don’t come to counselling for a laugh.
The performance is packed with intelligent writing and hilarious physical comedy. It doesn’t take long for the audience to feel comfortable with our storyteller. Sure, he’s a fool, but a loveable fool, who thinks (with the arrogance of youth) that he’s got his future all mapped out. But the writing is cleverer than that – we soon realise we are in a group therapy session – but who is the client? By the end of the piece, I begin to think that this theatrical experience is the cure to the condition I didn’t know I had! By the end of the 75-minute work you realise we have all had to confront the potential of grief in our lives.
As the piece progresses, we find ourselves rapidly yo-yo-ing from being in stitches to feeling his pain. The physicality of the work with the intense lighting changes making the work all the more poignant.
I believe everyone should see this – you’ll laugh, you’ll probably cry – but you won’t forget The Olive Boy.
This show was reviewed on 16th January 2026 at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London where it runs until the 31st January 2026. Tickets available here: The Olive Boy - Southwark Playhouse Borough
Review written by Paul Wood
AD/Gifted
Photo credit: John Blitcliffe
Check out other reviews from Curtain Call Reviews and get in touch to have our reviewers head to your show.