Words: Elodie Marriott
Image: Jack Ehlen

4 stars

Definition of stuffed: (1) having eaten to one’s limits or satisfaction (2) used to express indifference towards or rejection of (something).

In the UK, 11 million people are suffering from food insecurity. Stuffed, with its original breakneck bpm tracks, protective orange overalls, and wailing sirens, ramp up the tension and unequivocally convey the fact that this is an emergency.

Stuffed is alarming, upsetting, and brutally urgent. The personal testimonies of food bank volunteers and helpline operators are extremely affecting. Stories of families moving their only lightbulb from room to room, and mothers desperately seeking formula for their hungry children, is not easy to hear, but it’s crucial that we do.

The clowning sections are essential to the show, lightening the heavy material to give the audience some respite, without trivialising the message. In particular, the Stuffed game show in which a mother has to make impossible choices is moving and well executed. “Running a food bank is a lot like putting out a fire.”

Stuffed is disturbing, but it’s also empowering. This is crucial, as rather than exiting the theatre with paralysing despair, audience members are given a resource booklet which clearly details ways to help, so
hopefully more families can move from the second definition of stuffed.

Stuffed
Pleasance Courtyard – Above
14:25
Aug 9-17, 19-26