The Boy with Wings, based on the imaginative book by Sir Lenny Henry, recently took flight at The Polka Theatre. This world premiere production promises a vibrant and unique theatrical experience for its young audience. I was lucky enough to attend the press view with my three boys aged 6, 8, and 9 whose reactions offered a fascinating insight into this truly distinctive show.
What’s the story?
The fantastical story cleverly revolves around two colliding parallel worlds: an interplanetary, Red Dwarf-esque adventure and the central character’s everyday life of skate parks and home beautifully bought to life by set and costume designer Laura McEwen. Tunde (Adiel Boboye) has no idea he is the son of an alien bird warrior (Stephan Boyce) and raised on earth by an overprotective surrogate earth mother (Mia Jerome). It is only when he grows wings and is abducted by a feline alien (Jessica Murrain) that his true heritage begins to unravel.
It’s an out there story – a boy discovering he’s a bird from an alien planet at war with cats…not the easiest of tales to stage. Truth be told, for me, some of the theatrical choices and clunky transitions initially had me wondering if it was perhaps a little off the mark. I also expected the show to be funnier, especially as it’s based on a book by a comedian extraordinaire.
The first half, in particular, made the audience work hard to stay in the loop without any real reward. There’s a lengthy and wordy monologue by feline warrior (Murrain), more befitting a Hamlet audience, that despite its strong delivery, seemed to step precariously close to losing both children and adults.
However the real surprise was the utterly infectious reaction of my boys. By the second half, they were quite literally bouncing in their chairs, completely swept up in the story and its fantastical elements….and no I don’t think it was the post interval ice cream sugar rush! A powerful reminder that children often connect with theatre in ways adults might not always anticipate.
Their contagious giggles were all the confirmation I needed: this show is catnip for the 7-12 year old target audience. It’s a show with major street cred, boasting rap battles, gaming references, and parkour moves…of course they loved it.
Who is this show for?
This is a show that I believe might polarise audiences particularly if you are not mindful of the 7-12 age recommendation. During the performance, I overheard a far younger boy asking to leave, finding it “too scary.” Yet, just behind me, another child enthusiastically declared it their “favourite show of all time.” This dichotomy perfectly encapsulates the experience: The Boy with Wings is bold, imaginative, and unafraid to be different, and it’s precisely these qualities that will make it either a beloved hit or a challenging watch, depending on the individual child and their temperament.
Ultimately, while it pushed my own boundaries of theatrical preference, seeing the pure delight on my children’s faces made it an unforgettable and worthwhile experience. Is it for your child? I would say go for it …but maybe leave the younger siblings at home.
The Boy with Wings will be showing at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon 21st June – 16th August. Book Here
