We sat down for an exclusive interview with Ollie Maddigan, writer and performer of The Olive Boy, which lands in London following a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run and a short UK tour.
This show runs from 14-31st January at Southwark Playhouse Borough – Tickets here
1. The Olive Boy is drawn from such a personal part of your life. What made you feel ready to tell this story on stage?
The Olive Boy began as my attempt to make sense of the two things almost all of us encounter in life: growing up and losing someone we love. Grief was something I struggled to speak about, especially as a teenager, and writing became the only way I felt I could approach it. I did not set out to create something so open, but once I started drawing from my own experiences, the honesty followed naturally. Revisiting my fifteen year old self made me laugh and, at the same time, helped me understand the pain I once carried and the fact that life does eventually move forward.
2. The play beautifully captures the contradictions of grief – how it can be darkly funny, awkward, and quietly devastating all at once. Was humour always part of how you processed loss, or did that emerge later through writing and performance?
Yes, I have always used humour to process everything. Maybe it is a defence mechanism, I honestly do not know. What I do know is that tragedy often becomes humour with time. My friends still tell me off when I make jokes at my own expense, but I cannot help it. Almost anything can be funny if you choose to see it that way. The humour never removes the sadness, it simply makes it easier to carry. I genuinely believe that if The Olive Boy were not a comedy, it would be far too heavy to watch.
3. The Voice – performed by Ronni Ancona – adds such a unique layer. How did that collaboration come about, and what does that recorded presence bring to the world of the play?
Ronni is a dear friend of mine. We met while working on a film last year and had such a good time that we barely stopped laughing the entire shoot. When I asked her to join this project, she said yes instantly. She is genuinely the best. Her character, although never seen on stage, is vital to the story. The Voice is the only role that the Olive Boy himself does not perform, which means he cannot soften her words or pretend they are not happening. She pushes him into uncomfortable territory, and as the play progresses, we understand that she is a therapist and every moment we hear her is part of a therapy session.
4. The play has resonated widely – from its beginnings at the Camden Fringe to sell-out shows in Edinburgh and now a London run. What’s it been like to see audiences connect so deeply with something born from your own experience?
I feel an enormous sense of pride when I think about this show and how far it has come. I never expected it to connect with people the way it has, and the fact that it has lasted this long still surprises me. Bringing a piece like this to life is never easy. There are long stretches of writing, searching for the right team, finding financial support and hoping audiences will take a chance on it. But every part of that journey has been worthwhile. This production means the world to me, and performing it at Southwark feels especially meaningful, knowing it may be the last time I get to do it. I am cherishing every moment.
5. Ultimately, what do you hope people take away from The Olive Boy – especially those who might be carrying their own kind of loss?
You are not alone. Grief is something every one of us will face, and there is no shame in it. What you are feeling is simply love that has changed form. Nothing more. Be brave, be honest and talk about what is happening to you. I can say with complete sincerity that when you speak openly about your pain, what you receive in return is always love.
If you are going through something similar, or have in the past, I truly welcome you to come and see the show. I stay in the bar afterwards, and anyone is free to come and share their story with me. No one is alone. A world in which we speak to strangers like friends is a beautiful one.
The Olive Boy will be performing at Southwark Playhouse from 14 January to 31
January 2026. Tickets and information.