‘A heart-tugging stage musical’ The New York Times
‘Celebrating the indefatigability of the human spirit’ The Sunday Times
About The Show
Based on the international best-selling book and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s 2019 film, this bold new West End musical — hailed as ‘a moving, uplifting production full of heart, soul and astonishing talent’ (Afridiziak ★★★★★) — tells the extraordinary true story of William Kamkwamba.
In drought-stricken Malawi, a 13-year-old boy dreams of saving his village. As crops fail and hope runs dry, William finds inspiration in scraps of old machinery and a handful of library books. What he lacks in resources, he makes up for in determination, grit and imagination. Defying the expectations of his father, friends and community, a windmill begins to take shape, bringing energy, life and hope to his people.
Directed by Lynette Linton (Shifters, Sweat), with book and lyrics by Richy Hughes (Superhero) and music and lyrics by Tim Sutton (RSC’s The Merry Wives of Windsor), The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a timely story of hope and resilience. This celebration of human ingenuity and the courage to dream the impossible is only in London until 18 July.
Find out more about the Moving Windmills Project here.
Please note: This production contains loud music and flashing lights, and includes themes of violence and death.
Show Dates
29th April - 11th JulyDuration
Approx 2 hours 45 minutes including an intervalAge Recommendation
9+Ticket Info
@sohoplace has contactless ticketing for every performance. Tickets will be issued electronically 48 hours prior to the performance.
Fair access: 50% off across all bands
Group Tickets
Group Booking Enquiries
Call us on 0330 333 5963 or email us at [email protected]Groups 10+
£49.50 for Monday to Thursday performancesGroups 6+
£42.50 for Monday to Thursday performancesEducation Rate 10+
£25 for Monday to Wednesday evenings and Thursday matinee performances. One teacher goes free with every 10 tickets
To view our Education Resources, please click here.
Reviews
★★★★★‘It is impossible to leave the theatre without a smile on your face and warmth in your heart’
The Upcoming
★★★★★‘Electrifying…A must-see’
The Rendition
★★★★★‘Stunning’
Midlands What's On
★★★★★‘A truly gobsmacking production’
All That Dazzles
★★★★‘If this show set out only to inject a little heart into these darkest of times, then it has succeeded’
Broadway World
★★★★‘A marvellous story of human ingenuity and youthful determination.’
Morning Star
Cast
Madeline Appiah
Agnes Kamkwamba
Theatre includes: The Winter’s Tale, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew (RSC); Cymbeline (The Globe); Kerry Jackson, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Here We Go; Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre); Tina Turner The Musical (Aldwych); Hamlet (Harold Pinter Theatre); The Hotel Cerise (Theatre Royal Stratford); Iyalode of Eti (Utopia Theatre/Rich Mix/Arcola); In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play (St James Theatre); The Duchess of Malfi (Old Vic); Speechless (Shared Experience); Off the Endz (Royal Court); Mother Goose (Greenwich Theatre); It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First… (Arcola/Clean Break); Arabian Nights (New Vic); Dionysis Unbound (Bridewell Theatre); 200 Years, Cinderella (Watford Palace); The Wedding Dance (Birmingham Rep/Tour); Restoration (Oxford Stage Company); I Have Before Me… (Calypso); Brezhnev’s Children (BAC); Ms Ross: The Lady and Her Music (Neptune Theatre).
TV and Film include: Death in Paradise (BBC), Blood of My Blood (Starz/Sony), Black Mirror (Netflix), Jungle (Amazon Prime), The Box, In the Long Run (Sky), Elephant, King for a Term (Sky), Partners in Crime (BBC), Doctors (BBC), Gavin and Stacey (BBC), EastEnders (BBC), The Bill (ITV), Holby City (BBC).
Lori Barker
Ensemble + Understudy
Lori trained at the Urdang Academy.
Theatre credits include: The Harder They Come (Stratford East); Tina: The Musical (West End); Bodyguard (China tour); Ghost The Musical (UK tour); Juicy Bits (Orange Tree); Play Mas (Orange Tree); Hairspray (UK tour) and Legally Blonde (UK tour).
Pantomimes include: Cinderella (Theatre Royal Nottingham) and Jack & The Beanstalk (Hackney Empire).
TV Credits include: Jemma in Doctors (BBC); Dancer in The Lenny Henry Birthday Show (BBC One); Haven Holidays (TV commercial) and Sue in Harvey’s ‘Sofas for You’ (TV commercial).
Tsemaye Bob-Egbe
Annie Kamkwamba
Theatre includes: Viola/Vyman in Play On! The Musial (UK tour/Lyric Hammersmith); Katherine Howard in Six the Musical (West End); Jan Crouch in Tammy Faye workshop (Almeida Theatre); Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (West End); An Evening of Tina (Tour); Alline Bullock/Ikette in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (West End); Leading Player in Pippin (Garden Theatre); Janelle Woods/The Shirelles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (West End); Mephisto in The Vaudevillians (Les Enfants Terribles, Edinburgh Fringe); Fairy in Tweedy’s Reduced Pantomime (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham); Paulina in The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (RCSSD).
Film/TV includes: Vivian Ofori in Pretty Red Dress (BBC/BFI feature film); The BBC One Show; ITV This Morning; Britain’s Got Talent Live Final.
Voice Over includes: Picoletta in Benjamin Bat (Amazon Prime); Rosy Meviungou in Second Extinction (Windows and Xbox); Jelda in Horizon Forbidden West (PlayStation). Several internal and external campaigns which include Great Western Railway, AMEX, Adidas, Asics, Maggi, Microsoft, Vodafone, and H&M.
Trained at: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD)
Owen Chaponda
Mike Kachigunda + Blessings
Credits include: ‘Simba’ in West End’s The Lion King, I’m Your Rope (Jermyn Street Theatre), Sunset Boulevard (The Curve), The Color Purple (The Curve/Birmingham Hippodrome) and Back To The Future Musical.
McCallam Connell
Chief Wimbe
McCallam is a London-based actor, singer, and writer whose stage career spans classical drama, new writing, and musical theatre. His recent appearance in Boubil & Schönberg’s Martin Guerre produced by The Old Vic, follows on from notable performances in The Colour Purple (UK Tour), Playboy of the West Indies (Birmingham Rep), and Small Island at The National Theatre).
Alongside his theatre work, McCallam is a platinum-accredited recording artist and songwriter whose collaborations include Grammy Award–winning writers, producers and artists, most notable Tina Turner.
Eddie Elliott
Jeremiah Kamkwamba + Patience
Training: Eddie Elliott trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre: Noughts & Crosses at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, A Strange Loop at The Barbican, Blues For An Alabama Sky at The National. In London’s West End: The Lion King and Motown: The Musical. Other productions include: Spamilton at the Menier Chocolate Factory; We Will Rock You – Original UK tour; South Pacific at The Barbican and on UK tour; Assassins at the Watermill and Nottingham Playhouse; Drive Ride Walk at Greenwich; Dry Cleaned for Intermission; Puss in Boots at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds; The Music Man at Chichester; A Chorus Line and The Buddy Holly Story at The Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man; Five Guys Named Moe at Theatre at the Mill, Belfast and Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater Concert at The Other Palace.
TV: The War Between The Land And The Sea (BBC/Disney), Riches (ITV), Eastenders (BBC), Doctors (BBC)
Shaka Kalokoh
Charity + Hyena
Theatre includes: The Odyssey (Unicorn Theatre); Henry V: schools tour (Donmar); The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe (Gillian Lynne)
Trained at: Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Idriss Kargbo
Gilbert Mofat
Idriss Kargbo trained at The Sylvia Young Theatre School & The Urdang Academy.
Theatre Credits Include: Manly in Austenland (Savoy Theatre) Young Siddhartha in The Seeker (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) Judge Jude in I Wish You Well ( Criterion Theatre/ Edinburgh Fringe); Lewis in Pippin 50th Anniversary Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Tulsa in GYPSY (Manchester Opera House); Little Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Marble Arch Theatre); Boq In Wicked The Musical (Apollo Victoria); Donkey in Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour); Eugene Williams in The Scottsboro Boys (The Young Vic); Young Michael Jackson in Thriller Live (Lyric Theatre); Handwalker in Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Alternate Sean in Burlesque the musical (Savoy Theatre).
TV Credits Include: Casualty (BBC), Years & Years (BBC/HBO), Doctors (BBC), Grinch The Musical (NBC), Bad Education (BBC) and Spent (BBC)
Film Credits Include: Bingley in SNOW WHITE (Walt Disney Studios) MUGGED! (Short Film) Been So Long (Netflix)
Newtion Matthews
Mister Ofesi
Training: WAC Performing Arts & Media
Theatre credits include: The Harder They Come (Stratford East); Kinky Boots (UK & Ireland Tour 2025); Once On This Island (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Lyric Theatre, West End); Camelot in Concert (London Palladium); The Frontline (Shakespeare’s Globe); Black Power Desk (The Old Vic).
Television & film credits include: Electric Queens of Brixton (Verona Rose Productions); People We Hate At the Wedding (Amazon/ Little Satellite); The X Factor (ITV/ Freemantle); The Voice (BBC).
Newtion is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming EP: The Father, The Son & Holy Black.
Sifiso Mazibuko
Trywell Kamkwamba
Training: The Ohio State University, Master of Fine Arts Acting.
Theatre Includes: Girl From the North Country (Old Vic), A Good House (Royal Court), Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Stephen Gabriel & Jamie Wilson Productions Ltd), Hamilton (Cameron Mackintosh Ltd), Motown The Musical (Adam Spiegel Productions), Dreamgirls The Musical, Malindadzimu, I,Medea (SABAB Theatre), A Land Without People, The First Actress (Palindrome Productions), Dancers (Wrought Atlas Theatre Ensemble), The Tempest (Flute Theatre), The Theatre is a Blank page (Anne Bogart, SITI Company, Ann Hamilton), The Tempest (Ohio State University).
TV Includes: The Winter King, Willow, Similla’s Sense of Snow, Masters of The Air
Film Includes: Here be Giants, Pretville
Choolwe Laina Muntanga
Wind + Mika Kamkwamba
Training: Arts Educational
Theatre: ALFRED HITCHOCK PRESENTS (Theatre Royal Bath), A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Peacock Theatre), THE BODYGUARD (Festival Ljubljana), CHEEKY LITTLE BROWN (Stratford East)
Film: A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN
Concerts: PIPPIN 50th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), OLIVIER AWARDS 2024 (Royal Albert Hall), BBC Proms (Royal Albert Hall)
Commercials: Abba Voyage
Music Video: Genesis – RAYE
Alistair Nwachukwu
William Kamkwamba
Theatre includes: The Line of Beauty (Almeida), Choir Boy (Bristol Old Vic)
Film includes: A Friend of Dorothy
Television includes: Shadow and Bone, NCIS: Tony and Ziva
Tomi Ogbaro
Mizeck
Theatre includes: Ignatius! (Tramshed Theatre), Book of Will (Shakespeare North), Rapunzel/ Alice in wonderland (Liverpool Everyman/playhouse), Book of Dust (The Bridge theatre), The wonderful world of Dissocia (Theatre Royal Stratford east), Jane Eyre (New Vic/SJT), Seagulls (Octagon Theatre), An Act of Care (York Theatre Royal), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Sweet Charity (The Watermill Theatre)
Television includes: Endeavour (ITV), Holier Than Thou (Dave/uktv), Temple (Sky)
Film includes: Rose’s baby, See How They Run (Disney), Dao hides no name (Indie)
Trained at: Rose Bruford School of Theatre and Performance
Alex Okoampa
Ensemble + Understudy
Theatre includes: Play On! (Lyric Hammersmith & UK Tour); RENT (New Theatre & Queens Theatre); The Color Purple (Birmingham Hippodrome, UK Tour); EI8HT – An Original Musical Presentation (The Other Palace); TINA: The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre); Motown the Musical (UK & Ireland Tour); Babes in Arms (Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre).
Television includes: The Five (Sky One); Vodafone Commercial (Knucklehead); 3M Command Commercial (STINK).
Music videos include: Toddla T, Aitch (feat. TAET) – Hide N Seek, ENNY – Charge It
Trained at: Arden School of Theatre
Yana Penrose
Khamba + Puppetry Captain
Yana trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.
Theatre credits include: The Magic Flute (Glyndebourne Opera House), Animal Farm (UK Tour) 101 Dalmatians and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), An Enemy of the People (UK Tour), A Christmas Carol (Storyhouse, Chester), How Love Is Spelt (Southwark Playhouse), Emily Rising (Little Angel Theatre), The Ballad of Rudy (Royal Exchange, Manchester) and Jack (Derby Theatre).
Film and Television credits include: Rose Of Nevada (Film4), The Case Against Space (Local Vertical Films) and Humans (Channel 4).
Helena Pipe
Edith Sikelo
Television credits include: Queenie (Channel 4).
Theatre credits include: Noughts & Crosses (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Blues For An Alabama Sky (National Theatre); What Do You See? (The Pappy Show); In This World (Theatre For Young People); The Time Traveller’s Wife (Apollo Theatre); School of Rock (UK and Korea Tour); Nativity! The Musical (UK Tour); Oklahoma! (Grange Park Opera); Bare! A Pop Opera (Neptune Theatre); and The Color Purple (TROIKA Bermuda).
Lauren Azania
Understudy
Theatre includes: The Harder They Come (Stratford East); Hadestown (West End); Close Up (The Menier); Heartbeat of Home (Piccadilly Theatre); Boogie Nights (The Gatehouse Theatre); Disco Inferno and Magic of Motown (Tour); and productions of The Wizard of Oz; Little Shop of Horrors; Robin Hood and Happy Ever After (and lots of Panto Fairy magic too!).
Film includes: Wicked (Universal Pictures); Dinner with Herve (HBO Films); Hadestown (Proshot).
Recordings include: The original cast recording of Hadestown (West End).
TV includes: X Factor; Silo (Apple Studios); performances at the Olivier Awards and Big Night of Musicals (with Hadestown).
Ian Carlyle
Understudy
Training: The Barbados Dance Theatre and Purple Theatre Company.
Theatre includes: Mafala Hatimbi in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales); Toulouse-Lautrec/Cover Zidler in Moulin Rouge! (Piccadilly); Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre); The Lion King (Lyceum); Porgy and Bess (Savoy); We Will Rock You (Dominion and Dutch Tour); Miss Saigon (UK Tour); Carmen Jones (Royal Festival Hall); Notre Dame de Paris (International Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Arena Tour); Showboat (Crucible Theatre Sheffield); Blues in the Night (The Hippodrome Casino London); Sister Act: The Musical (Kilworth House and Dublin); Five Guys Named Moe (Marble Arch Theatre); Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola Theatre and UK Tour); The Lion King: The Rhythm of the Pride Lands (Disney Land Paris); Don’t Dress for Dinner; Carpe Juglum and Bugsy Malone.
Tad Hapaguti
Understudy + Dance Captain
Training: Emil Dale Academy
Theatre includes: Tyrone Jackson in Fame (European Tour), Ensemble in The Book of Mormon (West End), Ensemble in The Book of Mormon (UK Tour). Ensemble in The Little Shop of Horrors (The Factory Playhouse), Daddy Brubeck in Sweet Charity (The Factory Playhouse).
Workshops include: Ensemble / Headteacher in The Afterschool Death Day Club, Ensemble in Kin The Musical.
Tad is represented by Brewis Scott Associates and is thrilled to be joining the cast of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continued love and support.
Daniel Haswell
Understudy
Training: Royal Academy of Music
Stage Credits: Richard Bullock, Cover Ike Turner in Tina The Musical (Aldwych Theatre) Johnny Moore, Gerhart Thrasher and others in The Drifters Girl (UK Tour) Swing and cover Otis in Aint Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre) Ensemble and cover Mafala in The Book of Mormon (UK Tour) ; Ensemble/Stevie Wonder in Motown: The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour); West End Christmas.
Film Credits: Bunuel in The Labyrinth of the Turtles
Wilson Kiiru
Understudy
Wilson Kiiru is an Actor, Singer and Dancer born and raised in South East London.
Training: The Urdang Academy.
Theatre includes: Jermaine Jackson in MJ – The Musical (West End); Ensemble/Cover Simba in The Lion King (West End); Various roles in Motown The Musical (West End).
Film includes: The Marvels (Marvel Studios); Wicked (Universal Pictures).
Television includes: The Masked Singer, Britain’s Got Talent (ITV); Redknapp Investigates (Paddy Power).
Other credits include: The Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (Alexander Stadium); The Summertime Ball (O2 Arena).
Lanya Matthews
Understudy
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre includes: Ensemble & Cover Nala The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Agent 003 in Confessions (The Other Palace).
Film and television includes: Monet in Bibba & Nicole: Murder In The Park (True Vision/Sky Television); Mari in Little Brother (Impart and Co Productions) and Jazmin in Movie Night (Little Laughs).
Other Credits include: Headline Singer for Spurs Legends Charity Match (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2025), A Tribute to Her Majesty, The Queen (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2022) Opening Ceremony (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2019).
Creative Team
Richy Hughes
Book & Lyrics
Tim Sutton
Music & Lyrics
Lynette Linton
Director
Frankie Bradshaw
Set & Costume Designer
Shelley Maxwell
Choreographer and Intimacy Director
Oliver Fenwick
Lighting Designer
George Dennis
Sound Designer
Paul Groothuis
Co-Sound Designer
Gino Ricardo Green
Video Designer
Cynthia De La Rosa
Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Designer
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Orchestrator
Laura Cubitt
Puppetry Director
Nick Barnes
Puppet Designer
Liam Godwin
Music Supervisor
Ashton Moore
Musical Director
Kate Waters
Fight Director
Joel Trill
Voice and Dialect
George Sangwani Harrison
Dramaturg
Owen Chaponda
Co-Dramaturg
Wabriya King
Dramatherapist
TD Moyo
Associate Director
Kennedy Junior Muntanga
Associate Choreographer
Suzanne Scotcher
Associate Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer & Wigs Supervisor
Heather Basten CDG
Casting Director
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Executive Producer
Accessible Performances & Tickets
Access Enquiries
To book accessible seating for all of our performances, including wheelchair park seats please click here.
Call us on 0330 333 5962 or email us at [email protected].
Adapted from / Based on the book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and Potboiler Productions film.
Photography and recording of any kind is strictly prohibited.