Wonder Boy (Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play 2023) written by Ross Willis (Wolfie) and directed by Olivier-award winning Sally Cookson (A Monster Calls) following its triumphant 2022 premiere at Bristol Old Vic comes to The Lowry, Salford from 12th to 16th November as part of a UK tour.
Wonder Boy is a heart-warming and inspiring story about the power of communication told through the experiences of 12-year-old Sonny who stammers and has to find his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants and the biggest beast of them all – small talk.
Sonny’s only friend is Captain Chatter, a comic book hero of his own creation, but in the realworld, language is power and Sonny must find a way to be heard. When cast in the school production of Hamlet by the Headteacher, he finds the real heroes are closer than he thinks.
Packed with playful humour, dazzling visuals and thrilling original music this innovative production includes live creative captioning on stage throughout.
Making their professional theatre debut are LAMDA graduates Hilson Agbangbe (Princess Mirror-Belle) who plays Sonny and Naia Elliott-Spence (La Boheme) as Roshi. Ciaran O’Breen (Can Bears Ski?) plays Captain Chatter with Eva Scott playing Wainwright (Fool Me Once- Netflix; EastEnders) and Jessica Murrain (As You Like It; King Lear) as Sonny’s Mum/Fish.
Presented by PW Productions, the creative team also includes Katie Sykes (set and costumes), Benji Bower (original music), Aideen Malone (lighting design), Jonathan Everett (sound design), Laila Diallo (movement director), Mary Sutherland (associate director), Claire Llewellyn (fight director), Sophia Khan (costume and wigs), Annelie Powell (casting), BSL consultant David Ellington and live creative captioning on stage throughout designed by Tom Newell of award winning Limbic Cinema.
“an audaciously inventive, sparky yet sensitive, giddily enjoyable new play”
The Guardian
★★★★★
“Whatever your age, there is a rare sense of life and discovery to tap into here”
The Times
★★★★
“a powerful play”
The Reviews Hub
“the teenage audience remains enrapt”
North West End
★★★★
Wonder Boy will be at The Lowry from 12th to 16th November. Tickets can be booked at thelowry.com
For more information, images, or to arrange interviews please contact Jennifer Dean on jennifer.dean@thelowry.com. Images can also be downloaded from flic.kr
LISTINGS
Title:Wonder Boy
Dates: Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 November 2024
Venue: The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
Web: thelowry.com
Duration: 90 mins (no interval)
Age Recommendation: 12+ (strong language throughout)
Accessible Performances
BSL Interpreted by Emma Jane Mansfield | Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 7.30pm
Audio Described by Caroline Burn | Friday 15 November 2024 at 7.30pm. Touch Tour at 6.30pm.
Relaxed Environment Thursday 14th at 2pm
