The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind at @sohoplace was something genuinely different. It’s the first all-Black Royal Shakespeare Company production I’ve ever seen, and it felt like watching an African folktale come vividly to life.
Amazingly, though, this isn’t fiction — it’s the true story of William Kamkwamba, a poor boy from Malawi who, against all odds, achieves the impossible and builds a windmill to save his village from famine.
What could have been heavy or overly earnest is instead joyful, funny and deeply uplifting.
The choreography is stunning throughout — full of energy, rhythm and movement that makes the entire stage feel alive.
And the voices? Beautiful, rich harmonies that sound like cocoa. Honestly, no choir in the world can beat African harmonies — they just can’t. The music wrapped around the audience in waves.
Talking of vocals, we have to talk about Mr Ofesi’s (Newton Matthews’) voice, which deserves a review of its own. There’s a rich, operatic quality to it that cuts effortlessly through the ensemble numbers while still feeling warm and deeply emotional. He brings a gravitas to the role that elevates the production, delivering notes with both power and control while never losing the humanity of the character. In the quieter moments, especially, his voice had a resonance that completely held the audience — commanding, soulful and utterly captivating.
Directed by Lynette Linton, visually, the whole production felt immersive and vibrant, with a sense of community radiating from the stage. Even in its darker moments, the show never loses its sense of hope. The balance between laughter and heartbreak was handled beautifully. There’s also plenty of humour, particularly through the comedic performance of William’s best friend , Gilbert Mofat, who brought warmth and fun exactly when it was needed.
Special Afridiziak shoutouts have to go to Nick Barnes, who designed and Yana Penrose who implemented the unbelievable puppetry. All it took was a slight squint to ignore the puppeteers, and suddenly the animals completely came to life. (Not me tearing up over the dog…) Sidenote for theatre lovers: @sohoplace itself is a gorgeous modern venue. Arrive early and enjoy a few drinks in the huge bar area — the comfy seating and atmosphere make it worth lingering before the show starts.
A moving, uplifting production full of heart, soul and astonishing talent. Go see it!
NEED TO KNOW: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind runs at @sohoplace theatre from 25 April – 18 July 2026 | See listing
