The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind – Review

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind: Soho Place, London

30th May 2026

★★★★★

Based on the international best-selling book, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind tells the true story of William Kamkwamba, a 13-year-old boy dreams of saving his village in drought-stricken Malawi. As crops fail and hope runs dry, William finds inspiration in scraps of old machinery and a handful of library books. But can William defy expectations and harness the power of the wind to bring energy, life, and hope to his people?

From the very start, the energy is electric in this new musical. The cast enter and exit the stage through all four corners of the stage allowing for interaction with the audience and the whole audience are welcomed as if they are villagers of Wimbe alongside the cast. The vibrancy of the set and costumes is also shown in the passion and heart of each performer who exude energy and colour through their lively performances. There are no weak links in this production. Every cast member gives their full to their performance and the effect is superb. Alistair Nwachukwu as William is excellent, he is just the right amount of determinated, hardworking and endearing to make the audience truly back him from the start. Sifiso Mazibuko as William’s father Trywell is strong and and at times heartbreaking as the strain on him to provide for his family takes its toll. Idriss Kargbo steals the show as William’s friend Gilbert, he is the hilarious sidekick who has an emotional journey of his own throughout the show too. Another mention must go to Choolwe Laina Muntanga whose vocals are amazing as the wind. Many of the cast play multiple roles throughout and do so with conviction.

This inspirational true story is uplifting and joyous, bright and vivid. All the details have been thought through and the added touch at the end of having a video of William himself really adds that final touch. Clearly the creative team have done extensive research and it shows. The score by Richy Hughes and Tim Sutton is a mixture of styles including some sung in Chichewa (official language of Malawi) and is performed passionately by the cast and live band.

The set by Frankie Bradshaw is simple yet works brilliantly with hidden elements underneath the stage which help the storytelling. Most of the props and materials for the costumes have been bought directly from Malawi, swapping their older tools for new ones, which adds authenticity. Shelley Maxwell’s choreography draws on the Malawi roots and is a fusion of different styles which are joyous and energetic. This is a stark comparison to the hyena’s eery, stylised movements which work superbly to add the element of danger and dread. The hyena’s metaphor of death whose role becomes more prominent during the second act is a clever addition to the show and is performed excellently by Shaka Kalokoh.

Overall, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is a energetic, heart-warming and joyous show. It is hard to leave without a smile as the audience truly feel transported to Malawi to witness this incredible feat of talent and perseverance from a boy so young. It really shows that you can achieve anything given the right determination, resilience and resourcefulness, reminding us that “a journey achieved in one step is no journey at all”.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is playing until the 18th July 2026. For more information and tickets click here.

Photo Credit: Tyler Fayose