Brace yourself — this isn’t your typical night at the theatre. Following his critically acclaimed show F**king Legend, writer and performer Olly Hawes returns with Old Fat F**k Up, a darkly funny, painfully honest story about masculinity, fatherhood and the realities of middle age. It opens this November at London’s Riverside Studios. Here are five things you need to know about this raw and remarkable new production.

1. It’s About the Messy Truth of Middle Age

At its heart, Old Fat F**k Up follows a father who’s struggling to hold it all together — crushed by work, family life and the weight of expectation. Told with dark humour and devastating honesty, it explores what happens when the façade of masculinity begins to crack.

2. It’s Written and Performed by Olly Hawes

Olly Hawes — the mind behind the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe hit F**king Legend — returns with another bold and uncompromising piece. Critics have called him “magnificent” (WhatsOnStage), “terrific” (The Scotsman) and “utterly essential” (All That Dazzles).

3. It’s Darkly Funny (and Uncomfortably Real)

This one-man show blends storytelling, stand-up and confession. Expect to laugh, flinch and reflect as Hawes delves into the contradictions of being a modern man — where bravado meets vulnerability, and jokes hide heartbreak.

4. It Confronts What It Means to Be a Man Today

The play examines how men perform masculinity — how they act at home, at work, and in society — and what happens when that performance collapses. It’s as political as it is personal, confronting class, fatherhood and the quiet desperation of modern life.

5. It’s On at Riverside Studios This Winter

Old Fat F**k Up runs from 5 November to 20 December 2025 at Riverside Studios. With just 25 performances — and a press night on 11 December — this is one show you’ll want to catch before it’s gone. Expect laughter, heartbreak and a searingly honest look at what happens when dreams and reality collide.

Tickets: Book now at Riverside Studios