Stuffed - ★★★★★ Opening Nights Review

Ugly Bucket have done it again. Stuffed, their latest performance, directed by Grace Gallagher and Rachael Smart and in association with Unity Theatre, is a call to arms. A huge, explosive, emotional minefield of a show, which is about, amongst other things, foodbanks. But it is more than just a captivatingly honest performance, with a meal included prior and a post-show discussion panel, Ugly Bucket Theatre Company are here to lead the way in tackling social issues through sucker-punching theatre.

Not only is Stuffed completely heart-breaking, rallying and acutely thought-provoking- it is unrelentingly hilarious. Through unbridled talent and creativity, Ugly Bucket have taken a topic becoming increasingly at the forefront of people’s minds, and injected humour, wit, and a whole lot of heart. This incredible performance features the exceptional cast of Angelina Cliff, Grace Gallagher, Jessica Huckerby, Canice Ward, with music and sound design by Duncan Gallagher, present onstage for the duration of the show.

Stuffed is a rollicking, tense shout to anyone who will listen, combining striking personal testimonies from local foodbank workers with clowning, techno music and projections around the set. Cleverly accessible, the performance is visually described with the script and verbatim projected onto a large panel of fabric also incorporated through various clowning sketches. Occasionally the words are a little faint, but their echoing around the stage allows a brief all-encompassing window into lives which usually blend into society’s background. The set is arranged meticulously with various surfaces permitting projection and other props lingering ready for whatever might hit them next. 

From a gaggle of pigeons to a slice of virtue signalling and a kidney on the floor, Ugly Bucket take a leap into how foodbanks are about so much more than food. The performance delves into society, politics, work, education, everyday struggles, and a little bit on food. It stresses the importance of the community at the centre of everything- one of the reasons for the delicious pre-show Scouse, provided by Brendan Curtis-Burton. Stuffed is hard-hitting as the audience traverse the darkness of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis (personified, it’s just as bad) and the very literal darkness of a home with unaffordable electricity. Ugly Bucket’s Stuffed looks at you straight in the face and asks what you’re going to do about it.

At times, Stuffed is uncomfortable. It has you by the throat in its utterly compelling and difficult narrative, brought to life by the unmatched energy of the cast. But, Stuffed isn’t all about the cost of living emergency, although we must not ignore it. It’s about finding hope in the face of helplessness. Stuffed brings to light the importance of community spirit and humanity in dealing with unfathomable situations, something only amplified with speakers from the Trussell Trust after the show. The testimonials are vividly raw, but the empowerment to fight against unacceptable living conditions is unstoppable. 

Managing to navigate the line between preaching and erring on the side of over-dramatisation, Ugly Bucket’s Stuffed is as enraging as it is brilliant. Combining the lighting, electronic beats, and comic clowning with the sheer magnitude of the topic of foodbanks, a tour de force performance emerges that deserves a bigger stage, larger audiences, and the nation’s attention.

Hannah Goldswain for Opening Nights