Writer: Olly Hawes
Director: P Burton-Morgan
What do we do with all the men? Olly Hawes writes and stars in this production that addresses toxic male masculinity through the power of storytelling.
In a bloody shirt and trousers, with his hands stained with blood, Hawes’ words and mannerisms craft a story that is easy to follow. This show explores a day in the life of a tired, emotionally and economically stressed unnamed man. A storyteller by trade, he does not make enough money to fully support his growing family. With two small children and a baby on the way, the story opens early one morning with him taking charge of the children while his wife rests.
The tension builds as the man slowly reaches his emotional limit. Upon arriving at his parents, he secures financial aid before getting into a fight. Once he leaves with his wife and children, they go to a nearby park where the son accidentally hurts the daughter. In a fit of rage, he strikes the boy over half a dozen times. Yet, he is unable to apologise and instead goes for a drink. Hawes moves with his whole body and soul, creating and embodying this character. This tale sheds light on how a British man is limited in the way he can fully express himself.
There is humour throughout this performance to lighten the tension after pivotal moments. Sometimes this works, and other times it does not. Perhaps this is to keep the audience on their toes, but this sharp change from light humour into the darker undertones of British masculinity at times falls flat. The humour and darker undertones combine at the end in a striking scene where Hawes describes having sex with AOC (USA politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) that is geared to unsettle and lay bare the male gaze. It is a powerful moment, yet the message is unclear, partly due to the humour that corresponds to this scene.
Hawes’ gift of storytelling shines bright as he creates and narrates a potent story that will create future dialogue surrounding male toxicity.
Runs until 20 November 2025
