The Boy with Wings, Birmingham Rep, 21 August to 30 August 2025. Runs 1 hours 20 minutes including interval, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Hannah Phillips.

Photo Credit: Jake Bush.

The Boy with Wings

Birmingham Rep, 21 August to 30 August 2025

Runs 1 hours 20 minutes including interval

4☆☆☆☆. Review: Hannah Phillips

“Tunde no longer has anything to fear, he gains his freedom, his wings, emerging into his true self and taking flight.”

Based on  Sir Lenny Henry’s book The Boy with Wings, it was a treat to hear the proud Brummie’s familiar voice giving pre-show announcements in The Studio at The Birmingham Rep. The high-energy stage show, which has transferred from Polka Theatre, is adapted by Arvind Ethan David and directed by Daniel Bailey. The story is about Tunde Wilkinson, a 12-year-old boy beautifully played by Adiel Boboye, who embarks on a mission to save the galaxy. So, standard 12-year-old action! Whilst his over -protective mum Ruth, convincingly played by Mia Jerome tries to keep him indoors and out of harm’s way; reinforcing his anxiety that “everything is dangerous” rather than being outdoors playing parkour with his friends Dev and Kylie. In these parkour moments, we get to experience exciting lighting and video design by Gillian Tan supported by a dynamic and transformative set design by Laura McEwen. Similarly, composer and sound designer, Khalil Madovi deserves recognition for an exciting original score as does David for his lyrics, verse and rap which is especially well delivered by Millie Elkins-Green who plays Kylie. We quickly find out through a visit from a talking cat from outer space (a compelling performance by Jess Murrain) that actually Tunde is an alien who is about to sprout wings, his mother is a scientist, his father humorously played by Stephan Boyce is the leader of the bird people and they need Tunde’s help to stop the war between the cats and the birds. Get it? Do keep up!

Family life remains an important theme in this fast-paced live performance. There are references to absent fathers, not being an ‘egg mother’ but still being a mother or a parent, blended families and co-parenting, which is ambitious but doesn’t feel forced in the 60-minutes of action for children and family audiences. The intergenerational full house at Birmingham Rep certainly were all engaged and enjoyed this new work. The young people sniggering as Tunde declares “grown-ups are crazy” and similarly said grown-ups enjoyed Tunde’s mum’s declaration that “teenagers smell!” There is also a nod towards chosen family through Tunde’s newfound friendships with Dev and Kylie. Ultimately, this is a Hero’s Journey through which Tunde finds his true identity. He moves from a place of anxiety and fear where everything is dangerous and where he wants to fit in, to a place where he understands who he is, his heritage and his destiny, as he says in the final song, “I’ll tell my own story.” Tunde no longer has anything to fear, he gains his freedom, his wings: emerging into his true self and taking flight.

The show flies by, which works for the young audiences. It feels like there are parts of the narrative, character, action and relationships which could be developed further. Audience participation is set up half-heartedly with a couple of questions in our direction and then at the end with a call and response in the final song. It feels that this convention could have been set up in a more confident, consistent and meaningful way. However, the success of a show is the response of the audience it is made for. At the end, one of the children loudly exclaimed, “that was ten out of ten”. My ten-year old boys loved it, Levi liked that “it looked modern” and that there was gaming, split-screens, parkour, puppetry and rapping in it. Whilst Noah stated that it was the best acting show he had seen. The young audiences connected with the authentic voice, themes and energy of the show.

Cast

Tunde: Adiel Boboye

Jube: Jess Murrain

Ruth (mum): Mia Jerome

Kylie: Millie Elkins-Green

Dev: Samir Mahat

Aavan (dad): Stephan Boyce

Creative Team

Based on the book by Lenny Henry

Adapter for Stage: Arvind Ethan David

Director: Daniel Bailey

Set and Costume Designer: Laura McEwen

Composer and Sound Designer: Khalil Madovi

Lighting and Video Designer: Gillian Tan

Movement Director: Gabrielle Nimo