An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo at Waterloo East Theatre Review
Written by Danai for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Ned Blackburn’s An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo is a warmly delivered piece that sets out to excavate the emotional intricacies of queer teenagehood within the cloistered, often claustrophobic, world of British boarding schools. It's a familiar premise—a young gay man reflecting on his formative years—but Blackburn imbues it with enough sincerity, charm and comic wit to keep it engaging throughout.
Performed with a winning sense of vulnerability by both actors, Blackburn’s Johnny is a precocious 18-year-old looking back on his adolescent years at a boys’ boarding school. Navigating toxic masculinity, unspoken desires and the thrill of first love (particularly with rugby lad Harry), the monologue-style play leans heavily on pop culture references and self-aware humour to tell its story. These moments often land with warmth, and Blackburn’s writing does manage to carve out some sharply funny lines and a few surprisingly poignant beats.
What elevates the production beyond a standard memory play, however, is Joe Price’s direction. The stage at Waterloo East is transformed into a dynamic and flexible space, with minimal props and a simple set that allows for fluid movement through memories and moods. The direction ensures that Blackburn’s energy never wanes, and scenes move briskly between school corridors, dorm rooms and dreamlike inner worlds. It’s a smart and tidy piece of staging that lends the show a pleasing sense of theatricality without overwhelming the intimacy of the storytelling.
Yet for all its likability, An Adequate Abridgement doesn’t quite manage to say something new. In a theatrical landscape that’s increasingly rich with queer voices and bold storytelling—particularly in London—it feels like the piece plays it a little too safe. While Blackburn’s narrative is deeply personal and undoubtedly sincere, the structure and themes follow a well-trodden path. We’ve seen the queer coming-of-age story in various forms, and this version, while heartfelt, doesn’t expand the conversation in any striking way.
That said, it’s an easy show to root for. The audience laughed in all the right places, and Blackburn’s script, while not groundbreaking, clearly connects. For those seeking a gentle, witty and accessible piece of queer theatre, An Adequate Abridgement is perfectly serviceable. But in a city where queer theatre is flourishing with daring voices and inventive form, one might leave this abridgement wishing it had taken just a few more risks.
An Adequate Abridgement of Boarding School Life as a Homo plays at the Waterloo East Theatre until 25 May 2025 and continues to tour.
★★★
