Olivier Award-winner Sally Cookson directs the critically acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of Wonder Boy by Ross Willis which tours to York Theatre Royal from 29 October to 2 November.
Wonder Boy explores the power of communication told through the experiences of 12-year-old Sonny and his imaginary friend Captain Chatter. Packed with playful humour, dazzling visuals and thrilling original music this innovative production uses live creative captioning on stage throughout.
Sonny is 12. Living with a stammer, he’s 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. His 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 a school production of Hamlet by the Head Teacher, he finds the real heroes are closer than he thinks.
Making their professional theatre debuts are LAMDA graduates Hilson Agbangbe (Princess Mirror-Belle) as Sonny and Naia Elliott-Spence (La Boheme) as Roshi. Ciaran O’Breen (Can Bears Ski?) is Captain Chatter, with Eva Scott as Wainwright (Fool Me Once– Netflix; EastEnders) and Jessica Murrain (As You Like It; King Lear) as Sonny’s Mum/Fish.
Deaf actor Ciaran O’Breen (Can Bears Ski?), who plays Captain Chatter, hopes his role will inspire others who communicate differently to get into the performing arts. He made his professional debut in the premiere production of Wonder Boy in his home city of Bristol. His character communicates via British Sign Language (BSL), physicality and visual vernacular (VV).
The 23-year-old says: “I want to encourage more deaf awareness in general, so audiences have this greater understanding that there are various ways of telling stories, various ways of depicting messages. Lots of people say you can’t hear, you can’t speak, how can you be on stage? But it’s quite simple really because I just do everything with the help of visual cues.”
This heart-warming and inspiring story received the Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play 2023.
The creative team also includes Katie Sykes (set and costumes), Benji Bower (original music), Aideen Malone (lighting design), Jonathan Everett (sound design), Laila Diallo (movement director), Mary Sutherland (associate director), Claire Llewellyn (fight director), Sophia Khan (costume and wigs), Annelie Powell (casting), BSL consultant David Ellington and live creative captioning on stage throughout designed by Tom Newell of award-winning Limbic Cinema.
The UK tour of Wonder Boy has been supported with a substantial grant and public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Wonder Boy is at York Theatre Royal, 29 October-2 November.
Find out more information and book your tickets here.
