 TOM GREAVES: FUDGEY
August 24-26 - Assembly, Roxy - Downstairs Tom Greaves' Fudgey is a dark comedy that delves into the impact of boarding school trauma on English men. Greaves brings to the stage a character, Fudgey, a toxic ex-public schoolboy undergoing a midlife crisis that embodies the deep psychological scars left by the emotionally barren environment of boarding school, reflecting Greaves own journey through therapy and self-discovery. This personal exploration is not just about revisiting painful memories but about understanding how those early experiences have shaped his identity. Fudgey, for me, drew interesting parallels with Jean-Paul Sartre’s The Childhood of a Leader, where a young boy, Lucien Fleurier, experiences contribute to his development into a troubled adult; however, in Fudgey’s defence, he didn’t turn into an authoritarian. Both Greaves and Sartre explore how family, social environment, and personal experiences can lead to a fractured sense of self. Just as Lucien adopts various personas, Greaves’ character in Fudgey oscillates between rebellion and compliance with older pupils and an abusive teacher, while using humour as a defence mechanism that becomes a double-edged sword—a means of survival and a mask that conceals deep emotional trauma. However, while Lucien's journey in The Childhood of a Leader ultimately leads to his authoritarian transformation, Greaves’ Fudgey remains trapped in a cycle of unresolved trauma, with humour gradually dissolving into grief in a literal dark cave and realisation that the wit and sarcasm that once served as protective layers can no longer shield him from the emotional fallout of his past, instigated by his father’s decision to send him to boarding school. Greaves touches on how the trauma of boarding school shapes individuals who often rise to positions of power, a theme echoed in Sartre’s novel. Greaves suggests that the dark humour and resilience celebrated by ex-boarders are often symptoms of deeperemotional neglect, leading to dysfunctional behaviours that persist into adulthood. The play not only entertains but also provokes a critical reflection on the long-term effects of a toxic education system on the emotional wellbeing of vulnerable and impressionable boys. 5 / 5 Lee Hutchison |
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