REVIEW: OUTPATIENT by Harriet Madeley at Park Theatre 20 May - 7 June 2025
'sharply funny and profoundly moving' ★★★★
In OUTPATIENT, Harriet Madeley delivers a buoyant, compelling performance that is both sharply funny and profoundly moving. This one-woman show invites us into the world of Olive - a self-absorbed entertainment journalist desperate to make an impact, to be taken seriously, to measure-up to her war correspondent girlfriend... and maybe even win the Pulitzer.
What begins as a cynical rouse to exploit dying patients in the palliative care unit for a career-defining article takes an unexpected turn when Olive herself is diagnosed with a rare, untreatable illness. From here, OUTPATIENT becomes something deeper, messier, and ultimately life-affirming, as Olive is forced to reckon with her own mortality, her reassessed ambitions, and the complex reactions of those closest to her.
Madeley’s writing is whip-smart and layered, and her performance is a tour de force - full of energy, vulnerability, and comic timing. She engages directly with the audience, creating a sense of intimacy that keeps us locked into Olive’s inner turmoil and transformative journey.
Director Madelaine Moore keeps the production refreshingly pared back, allowing the emotional beats to land without distraction. The set is simple: a treadmill, a gym ball, and a screen displaying visuals explaining Olive’s diagnosis. The simplicity of the design highlights the imaginative scope of the storytelling and puts the spotlight squarely on Madeley’s captivating presence.
OUTPATIENT is a theatrical experience that pulses with honesty and humour. It’s a show that confronts death but brims with life - a striking balance of wit and warmth that leaves you feeling uplifted.
Box Office: https://parktheatre.co.uk/event/outpatient/
Cast
OLIVE | HARRIET MADELEY
Creative Team
WRITER | HARRIET MADELEY
DIRECTOR | MADELAINE MOORE
PRODUCERS | CROWDED ROOM
SOUND DESIGNER | BELLA KEAR
LIGHTING & PROJECTION DESIGNER | MEGAN LUCAS
STAGE MANAGER | JESSICA TAYLOR
