"Wonder Boy" by Ross Willis

Derby Theatre.

Once in a while comes along a piece of theatre that really makes you think and takes you into a world that you are not familiar with, subject wise, and entertains as well as educates.

Winner of the 2023 Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play.

 The show is a heart-warming and inspiring story about the power of communication told through 12-year-old Sonny who lives with a stammer, finding his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and let’s not forget the biggest beast of them all – small talk.

Sonny’s only friend is Captain Chatter, a comic book hero of his own creation, but in the real world, language is power and Sonny must find a way to be heard. When cast in the school production of Hamlet by the Headteacher, he finds the real heroes are closer than he thinks.

Captain Chatter is the hero of Sonny's hand-drawn comic books, kitted out like a cross between a Tour de France participant and something out of Star Trek, who often allows Sonny to avoid public speaking by taking over the stage. Which, of course, is the last thing Sonny needs, especially after bagging a role in a lunchtime production of "Hamlet", after landing himself in detention for assaulting another schoolboy with a fork.

Samir Mahat takes the lead role of Sonny on Thursday night, covering for Hilson Agbangbe. It must be so difficult to convincingly play a person who stammers when you don't stammer yourself; it's like playing a piano out of tune when you're a concert pianist, because you are so used to doing something one way, and then having to retrain your brain to act in a completely unnatural way. Samir was completely convincing as Sonny and really made you feel his frustration and anger at not being able to communicate. Samir is magnetic on stage, and he is on stage for practically all of the ninety five minute show, and you can't keep your eyes off of him as you're drawn into his world.

Ciaran O'Breen is Captain Chatter, the comic book character that Sonny, who has a flair for art has created to help him through. Captain Chatter's persona is one of comic book status and image. He's also full of energy, speeding around the set and leaping wide chasms between stages set up on the Derby theatre stage. The BSL interpretation consultant for Ciaran was David Ellington.

Naia Elliott-Spence plays Roshi, a fellow student who devotes time, warmth and energy in trying to bring Sonny out of himself. I love this character as she does and says exactly what she wants to do and say, sometimes at the detriment to other school colleagues, but she takes a shine to Sonny and starts to bring him out of himself. Roshi is also in detention and gets the role of Hamlet in the lunchtime drama production. It's worth the price of the performance ticket to hear her synopsis of "Hamlet". Another energetic performance.

Jessica Murrain plays Fish, the Headteacher of Sonny's new school, as well as playing Sonny's Mum. Two very different roles and two very different personas. Fish is driven by stats to show the Governors just how well she is doing in her job, but has zero interest in the pupils or their interests, but has a big interest in cats! There's a brilliantly comedic scene near the end where a "discussion" between Fish and Ms Wainwright regarding the progress sheets that are supposed to be completed for every pupil dealt with by detention/correction, which turns into a very catty spat!

As Sonny's Mum, we get a softer side of Jessica, and we also discover the history that Sonny and his Mum had, which is why he has been placed in the care of another. The reveal is one of those jaw dropping moments in a play that tugs at your heart, so you may want to go armed with tissues.

Eva Scott plays Ms Wainwright, the deputy head of his new school. The polar opposite teacher to Fish, and the sort of teacher you want to be taught by. Wainwright swears and acts, almost as bad as the kids that end up in her class, but this also gives her an infinity, as we also discover later in the play, with Sonny. A brilliantly written comic character who also strikes at your emotional side. Wainwright is the main, after Roshi, influencer to break down the fears and barriers that Sonny has in his head about speaking. She gives him that confidence in himself to communicate with the world and take on the role of the guard in Shakespeare's "Hamlet". The play leaves you on the cusp of his performance debut. After this synopsis of Wainwright, I imagine that you know that I adored Eva as an actor.

Directed by Sally Cookson, it's fast moving and extremely well balanced with comedy and emotions. the comic book scenes and the animation sections are presented brilliantly, and would have been great for a younger audience, bar from the adult language that is used throughout. Don't worry, that didn't bother me one iota; there wasn't any words that I didn't know. There was a party of school children in on Thursday and there was one word that even shocked them as I heard a collective gasp of shock from them. This shows that the production hit home even with the younger audience, causing the desired reaction.

There's a particular scene which indicates the weight that Sonny feels with words. He is literally weighed down with the letters in his head that cause him so much stress

Set and costumes by Katie Sykes. the set was simple with an entrance half way up the back set with steps leading to the stage; this back set was utilised for the projections which also acts as part of the inclusivity of the play. The costumes, especially the one for Captain Chatter were excellent. I noticed that the colour of the costumes for the rest of the cast also helped with the captioning, especially with Fish and wainwright with Fish wearing a green suit and wainwright dressed in orange; the projected script being in the respective colours to indicate which character was saying which lines.

Original music by Benji Bower, and there's a lovely selection of music genres covered to cover the scene changes and as background incidental music throughout.

Lighting Designer is by Aideen Malone and the sound design is by Jonathan Everett.

Movement in this production is an important section and this is conceived by Laila Diallo. The fight sequence in the show was conceived and created by Claire Llewellyn.

The play features live, integrated creative captioning. All of the characters’ lines are projected onto the back part of the set, including lines delivered in British Sign Language. The show embraces different methods of communication in its story and presentation, which is now becoming a regular feature to make theatre more inclusive and accessible to all. The projection and Caption design has been created by Tom Newell of Limbic Cinema.

The tour is produced by PW Productions, best known for "The Woman in Black" and "An Inspector Calls".

"Wonder Boy" will make you laugh. It might make you cry. It will definitely make you think. It will also educate and entertain you.

"Wonder Boy" is at the Derby Theatre until Saturday 26 October.