Wonder Boy - The Lowry

HAVE you ever wondered how frustrating it must be to know exactly what you want to say, while being constantly held back by your stammer?

I passionately believe live theatre should be there to educate as well as entertain. But Wonder Boy manages to tick both boxes, engagingly brought to life by a multi talented cast who don’t simply act their roles, they live them.

This is one of the occasions when the dividing line between acting and real life becomes blurred and you care deeply about what happens to central character Sonny, a secondary school kid living with the most cruellest of speech impediments.

However, not at any point is the audience encouraged to feel sorry for Sonny, even when he comes face to face with his horrendous headteacher Miss Fish, a cat obsessed character who regards the children at her school as mere facts and figures rather than real human beings.

She makes the Wicked Witch of the West look positively warm and cuddly.

But the good news is Sonny finds support in his own teacher Miss Wainwright, who works so hard as he struggles to find his voice and some much needed self-confidence.

I can’t remember the last time a play affected me so deeply - I laughed and I wiped away a tear or two. It was equally pleasing to see so many young people in a theatre not watching a panto and they seemed equally transfixed as I was by what they were watching.

It feels wrong to single out individual performances. However, as Sony, Hilson Agbangbe and Naia Elliott Spence as Roisin, Sonny’s rebel of a confidante and Eve Scott as Miss Wainwright are beyond exceptional.

Fabulous, thought provoking and cliche free, Wonder Boy is a must see.

Until November 16. Tickets are available from 0843 208 6000 or www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - ******