An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo – University of Sheffield Drama Studio

Writer: Ned Blackburn

Directors: Meg Bowron and Josh Stainer

Following rave reviewers at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School as a Homo is enjoying a short UK tour with support from Arts Council England funding. As it reaches the end of its tour and lands in Sheffield for one night only, it is clear to see why audiences have already taken a great fondness to this play.

The play follows Johnny and his ups and downs through life at boarding school as a queer individual. As the programme states, the play is not a coming out story. Nor is it a gay tragedy. Instead this simply is a look into the life of a queer young man coming to terms with who he is whilst surrounded by very heterosexual (or heterosexual acting at least) boys.

Ned Blackburn writes the play and he is certainly one to watch. His play takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions, with a good number of laughs and by the end we are moved by Johnny’s struggles. It is a refreshing take, given it is not a coming out story. It is a story of young man who is confident in his identity as a queer person – or at least that’s what he thinks. Some of the laughs don’t quite land with the small Sheffield audience but your reviewer found himself chuckling along. Blackburn will surely grow as a writer of comedy as he continues to produce new work – he certainly shows great promise here.

Blackburn also takes on the role of Johnny – in addition to his writing, he really shines as an actor. He is instantly likeable with the audience in the palm of his hands from the off. In the early moments, he really captures the confident gay teenager whilst still clearly having a level of pain and struggle behind his eyes. His struggles in an environment where he does not fit in build up gradually throughout the play before he explodes. Blackburn certainly performs the heavier moments very well, in addition to the fun and humorous moments.

Alongside Blackburn is Harvey Weed as a multitude of characters. He demonstrates prowess as a comedic character actor with many of his smaller characters – your reviewer would not be surprised to see him starring in shows like The 39 Steps and Operation Mincemeat in the future. However, Weed is also a strong serious actor. As Harry, the rugby player who Johnny has regular success with, he is great, bringing to life Harry’s presented confidence (and in reality, lack of) as well as his anger and pain. As the school’s priest (because this is a religious boarding school) he is intimidating and antagonistic – this is Weed’s one role, however, that can feel a little too over the top and playing it more seriously could help some of the weight of the piece to land better.

Directors Meg Bowron and Josh Stainer take us effectively to an array of different locations using the minimal set creatively. The movement direction is particularly wonderful – the moments of dance and music inject some fabulous energy to the production.

An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School as a Homo is a wonderful play telling a fresh, important and relatable story, brought to life by a talented group of individuals who are all clearly destined for great things.

Reviewed on 28th May 2026. Touring until 30th May 2026.