PPP: Funeral For My Boobs
★★★☆☆ Lively
Assembly Roxy: Wed 20 – Sun 24 May 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Funeral For My Boobs by Hannah Howie, the latest Play, Pie and a Pint from Òran Mór at Assembly Roxy, is a touching autobiographical tale presented as an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular.
The production, a cabaret-style farewell to the writer’s breasts after a double mastectomy, is produced in association with Glasgow production company Drive Official and co-presented with Ayr Gaiety, in support of The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated breast cancer wellbeing and support centre.
Hannah Howie. Pic: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
The piece is inspired by Howie’s own discovery that she carried the BRCA2 gene. This explained the early deaths of women in her family (notably her paternal grandmother Agnes, who died at 31) as well as giving her an 85 % chance of contracting breast cancer at some point in her life.
The story of this medical diagnosis, and the autobiographical material that goes with it, comes surrounded by riotously over-the-top excursions into old-school cabaret, featuring versions by Howie of songs by Fleetwood Mac, Billie Eilish, Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera (not to mention the title song from Cabaret itself). As well as plenty of references to Wicked, if no actual songs from it (can’t get the rights, you see).
pantomime humour
There’s also plenty of pantomime humour that is not so much double entendre as straightforward smut. Energetic backing comes from Gregor John-Owen and Kirsty Malone as Freda and Georgia (or, as they are alternatively known, Left Boob and Right Boob).
Kirsty Malone, Hannah Howie and Gregor John-Owen, with Stuart Fleming. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
The production’s wilful refusal to settle down into any sort of tonal consistency, or to countenance any degree of good taste, is very much in its favour and means that it is extremely entertaining as well as having considerable emotional heft. Unfortunately, it is also its biggest drawback; some of the humour seems shoehorned in, and some of the musical turns come across as just a little forced.
Much of it is remarkably impressive, however. Howie is a charismatic performer, even if her voice is occasionally a little too big for the space. John-Owen and Malone provide sterling comic and musical support, helped by Stuart Fleming’s musical direction.
almost ridiculously lively
Chris Stuart Wilson’s direction is almost ridiculously lively, while Heather Grace Currie’s set and costume design are tremendous fun and far more expansive than is the norm with Play, Pie and a Pint.
The most heartening thing about Funeral For My Boobs is that it tackles its subject matter head-on while refusing to give into any kind of despair. As such, it serves as a fitting tribute to Granny Agnes as well as to the departed Left and Right.
Running time: One hour and 5 minutes (no interval)
Assembly Roxy (Upstairs), 2 Roxburgh Pl, EH8 9SU
Wednesday 20 – Sunday 24 May 2026
Daily: 1pm; Thursday also at 6pm
Tickets and details: Book here.
Kirsty Malone and Gregor John-Owen, with Stuart Fleming. Pic Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
ENDS
