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BrumHour saw The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind at the invite of The RSC.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind at The RSC, Swan Theatre: Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A wonderful, heart-warming production!

Directed by Lynette Linton, book and lyrics by Richy Hughes, music and lyrics by Tim Sutton

Set in the early 2000s, William Kamkwamba is a young teenager who finds his family and village in Malawi is struggling, triggered by seeing his teacher’s bycicle light is pedal powered, he seeks to create tech from wind power. But he meets resistance from his family.

This is a heartwarming musical, far larger than the stage it is presented on at The Swan Theatre. The music and vibe are really uplifting, and I could see tears of joy on the faces of the company during the curtain call.

Alistair Nwachukwu plays William Kamkwamba; his performance is thoughtful, and he really leans into the role, flashing huge amounts of charm every time he smiles at the other characters. Sifiso Mazibuko is excellent as his father, Trywell Kamkwamba, with Madeline Appiah confidently embodying William’s strong mother, Agnes. Playing real people appears so tricky and these performers make the characters strong and real throughout.

The music is atmospheric and reflects the tone of African storytelling, confidently suggesting that tech and the digital generation is itself magical. The set uses plenty of projection, trap doors in the floor and reclaimed materials to add to the whole tone of the production.

Strong performances all round and choreography add to the storytelling style of this wonderful, heart-warming production. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is at The RSC, Swan Theatre until 28th March 2026, before heading to Soho Place from 28th April to 18th July 2026.

Book tickets here: rsc.org.uk/the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind.