The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by Richy Hughes & Tim Sutton – ★★★★★
André De Shields describes theatre as "life enhanced… a totally different experience to any other medium… no other place can you go for that kind of enlightenment and entertainment". Though he spoke of theatre in its broadest sense, I believe these words describe with rare precision the stage production of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind at @sohoplace.
Set in Wimbe, Malawi, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is a true story. A story about a schoolboy who at thirteen years old taught himself the mechanics of wind energy to help his family through famine, and bring electricity to his village. Since that day, his life has been a story of inspiration. It has been told through a TED Talk, a novel, an award-winning film and now a musical. Written by Richy Hughes and Tim Sutton, this adaptation takes us through the story of William Kamkwamba, his family and local community in an upbeat musical with a vibrant cast and a remarkable set showing us the power of hope, perseverance and a dream.
William Kamkwamba (Alistair Nwachukwu), the son of a farmer, is obsessed with fixing things. On the morning of his first day of school, he is nowhere to be found. We are thrown into the opening number, "Where Did That Boy Go", through which we meet William's father Trywell (Sifiso Mazibuko), mother Agnes (Madeline Appiah), older sister Annie (Tsemaye Bob-Egbe) and best friend Gilbert (Idriss Kargbo). William, it turns out, is found among scraps, coaxing a broken radio back to life before rushing off to school.
His community reminds him, more than once, that every opportunity to learn is one too precious to waste. The Kamkwamba family are not wealthy, but they are dreamers. With fewer trees and harvests growing ever distant, every farmer in Wimbe mourns what once was. As the play unfolds, the famine deepens, lives fracture and families strain under the weight of it. Through it all, William rises to meet the moment, determined to build a windmill that will power the village water pump and breathe life back into his community. Forced to leave school when funds run dry, he perseveres and, quietly but certainly, changes the world around him.
As the play opens, the cast welcomes the audience with warm, playful interactions; some are invited to get up and dance, others given a gentle nudge. The tone is set, the fourth wall dissolved. Under Lynette Linton's direction, everything moves with remarkable pace and synchrony. The cast are electric, every moment punchy without ever missing a beat. @sohoplace feels simultaneously vast and intimate, and it is this quality that draws you so completely into the world of the play. The transitions are sharp and clean. The first half runs longer than the second, but the standard of excellence holds across both. Richy Hughes and Tim Sutton's musical direction is exquisite, sustaining flow and momentum even as the tone darkens in Act Two.
As a company, the cast are nothing short of remarkable, every member carrying the heart of the play with conviction. Every sound impactful, every move purposeful. As parents, Mazibuko and Appiah were present and tender, their love for their children feeling familiar and constant. As Chief Wimbe, McCallam Connell is strong and sharp; his son Gilbert (Idriss Kargbo) playful and jovial, balanced with seriousness and when the moment called for it emotional and vulnerable. The Mphala Boys (Owen Chaponda, Eddie Elliott, Shaka Kalokoh and Tomi Ogbaro) are equally notable for the range within their performances.
Helena Pipe as Edith Sikelo, was both narrator and librarian - carrying the weight of the story with remarkable delicacy. Choolwe Laina Muntanga as the Wind and as Mika Kamkwamba, is beautifully dynamic; striking in movement and powerful in voice, her appearances sporadic yet deeply moving. Yana Penrose plays the role of Khamba with grace and precision sustaining the role across nearly two hours with extraordinary vigour. As William Kwakwamba, Nwachukwu captures the character's heart and innocence completely. You believe he is thirteen years old with nothing but a dream. He inhabits every space William enters with quiet truth.
Whilst individual performances are easy to admire, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is, at its heart, a collective achievement. Music and dialogue are woven together with such care that the whole production feels like a single, breathing thing. Performances are sharp, the chemistry across the cast palpable, and the emotion on stage utterly real and raw. Standout numbers including "For Tomorrow", "The Girl In The Market Place", "This I Know", "You'll See", "Whole Day We Cry/Annie's Letter" and "Akamai M'gulitsa" are nothing short of electrifying.
Frankie Bradshaw's set and costume design make @sohoplace feel representative of Wimbe. The stage appears bare, but it is far from it, transforming across the production into a farm, a grave and two distinct households. Colour and texture are deployed with care, conjuring village life vividly enough that the audience's imagination is never left to labour. The costumes are beautiful and poignant in equal measure. Shelley Maxwell's choreography, Cynthia De La Rosa's work with WHAM, and Oliver Fenwick and George Dennis's lighting and sound design each complement the musical numbers with quiet precision.
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is an extraordinary piece of theatre and a must-see for anyone who has the opportunity to watch it. You may leave in tears, moved by something you cannot quite name, or you may leave filled with inspiration and gratitude, ready to face the world differently. Either way, you will leave with something. That is the enduring power of William Kamkwamba's story.
★★★★★
By Eniola Edusi
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is showing at @sohoplace until 18 July