Alt Africa
"A bold, tug-at-your-heartstrings piece of theatre, a celebration of African ingenuity and the power of a child who refuses to accept the limits placed on him."
In drought-stricken Malawi, a 13-year-old boy dreams of saving his village. Nobody believes he can - not his father, his friends, nor his community. As crops fail and hope runs dry, William Kamkwamba 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, and a windmill begins to take shape.
The true story of William Kamkwamba - born in 1987 in Wimbe, Malawi - has already inspired millions through his internationally bestselling memoir (co-written with Bryan Mealer) and the acclaimed 2019 Netflix film written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred alongside Maxwell Simba. Now it comes to the stage for the first time, in a major RSC world premiere that opened in Stratford-upon-Avon before transferring directly to London’s West End.
Directed by Lynette Linton - former Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre and director of the acclaimed Shifters - the production features book and lyrics by Richy Hughes and music and lyrics by Tim Sutton, with Chiwetel Ejiofor joining as Creative Associate and Executive Producer. On press night of the Stratford run, the real-life William Kamkwamba jumped on stage to a deafening standing ovation.
The show plays at @sohoplace in the round - the intimate 600-seat venue’s thrust configuration placing the audience close around the action and giving the production an electric, communal feel perfectly suited to a story about collective hope. Songs and lyrics circle around ideas of faith, ingenuity and stubborn optimism, with puppetry and physical theatre combining with the score to create moments of pure theatrical magic. Book your tickets now.
