Review: Wonder Boy at the Lowry ‘explores the power of communication, resilience and friendship’

Wonder Boy, which won the Writers Guild Award for Best Play, is directed by Olivier award-winner Sally Cookson and tells the inspirational story of a boy who fights his inner demons and learns the power of communication.

Wonder Boy follows Sonny, a twelve year old boy who’s starting at a new school after being placed in foster care. Sonny, played by Hilson Agbangbe, struggles at school and when called into the Deputy Head’s office, he can barely say his own name. Sonny has a stammer.

He feels like the words are piling on top of him, he knows what he wants to say and exactly how he wants to say them, but they won’t come out.

Wonder Boy at the Lowry

While other teachers in the school dismiss him, talk over him and ignore his feelings, a visit to the Deputy Head sparks an unlikely friendship.

Due to Sonny struggling to communicate, the play uses sign language and creative captioning in an imaginative way. Sonny is a talented artist, he draws comics to pass the time and to get his emotions out. One of his characters, Captain Chatter, comes to life on stage to help, and sometimes hinder, Sonny at school.

Captain Chatter by Ciaran O’Breen

Captain Chatter, a superhero in a blue and white tight fitting costume played by Ciaran O’Breen, has no verbal parts in the play, but delivers his lines using exaggerated movements and British Sign Language. This not only improves the accessibility of this show to wider audiences, but proves that there are more ways to communicate than just using your voice.

As Sonny and Captain Chatter navigate their way through the school day and attempt to make friends, all the lines in the play, including the BSL, are projected onto the stage behind them in a large comic book font that’s easy to read and colourful. The way this play uses technology to aid accessibility is something that a lot of well known plays and theatre shows could learn from.

Sonny’s worst fears come true when he’s asked to play a part in the school play, Hamlet. Having to stand up in front of the class to read aloud is anxiety-inducing enough for any young person but for Sonny, performing lines on stage is a nightmare come to life.

To complete this impossible task he needs the help and guidance of Wainwright, the Deputy Head. Wainwright, played by Eva Scott, is the down to earth teacher everyone, apart from the Head Mistress, loves.

She has a millennium falcon on her office desk, a picture of her wife, pre-folded paper planes and some Ryvita if you’re feeling peckish and want some ‘shit bread’ – her words, not mine.

Battling your inner demons

As Sonny begins to relax around Wainwright, he begins to find his voice. She teaches him techniques that help stop his racing mind and untie the knot in his stomach to allow the words he so desperately wants to say, escape from his mouth.

As Sonny and Wainwright battle through the days leading up to the play, he makes friends with Roshi, the school ‘bully’. After meeting outside Wainwright’s office, Roshi recognises Sonny, they live on the same estate now and Roshi takes a shine to him. Roshi, played by Naia Elliott-Spence is the misunderstood rebel who has her own struggles, she’s seen as the aggressor in every situation, despite never being able to tell her own side of the story.

Naia plays the role of Roshi brilliantly, she’s loud, funny, cheeky and caring towards Hilson/Sonny. The playful energy between Roshi and Sonny comes across in every scene, you can really see them being friends off and on the stage.

Incredible character development

The character development of each person in the play is remarkable, from Sonny’s stammer to Roshi’s self fulfilling prophecies and Wainwright opening up about her own struggles with stuttering. There’s something relatable about each of the characters that will appeal to audiences of all ages – but there is a lot of swearing! The themes explored in the play will hit home for many audience members, especially young people and teachers, the struggle of wanting to feel seen and heard in a crowded environment where it feels like you’re facing an uphill battle.

But if Wonder Boy teaches you anything, it’s that the power of communication, resilience and friendship can help you get through. The young actor Hilson who plays Sonny portrays him brilliantly, his stammer doesn’t feel fake or comedic, you can see the struggle on his face as if he’s spitting out consonants and choking on vowels. The anguish, frustration and anxiety he faces every day while trying to answer simple yes or no questions is palpable and you feel like you’re holding your breath in the audience willing Sonny to speak.

Wonder Boy are working in partnership with STAMMA, a UK charity who represent people who stammer. The Wonder Boy team has put a lot of effort into accurately representing people who stammer and it really shows.

Tickets for Wonder Boy at the Lowry

The play Wonder Boy is on at the Lowry theatre until the 16th of November, with accessible audio described show on Friday the 15th of November at 7.30pm and a touch tour at 6.30pm and a relaxed showing on Thursday the 14th of November at 2pm.

More information and tickets can be found here