The Boy at the Back of the Class – A Show Every Family Should See
Over the Easter holidays, while also being knee‑deep in chocolate eggs and trying to remember what day it was, we took a trip to London’s Southbank Centre to see The Boy at the Back of the Class. And honestly, I’m still thinking about it. You know those rare shows that stay with you long after the curtain falls? This is one of them.
It’s currently touring with the brilliant Children’s Theatre Partnership, heading to Salford, Truro, Blackpool, Cardiff and Bradford — and if you’re anywhere near any of those places, consider this your nudge. Actually, consider it a shove.
A Story That Matters — For Kids (and Adults)
The production is based on the much‑loved book which Jonny tells me is a staple in his school, but seeing it unfold on stage is just mesmerising. It tells the story of Ahmet, a young refugee who arrives in the UK alone, unable to speak English, and is placed into a school where he can’t communicate with the children around him.
It’s a story about real lives — the kind we sometimes avoid talking about because they’re uncomfortable, or sad, or too big to wrap our heads around. But this show handles those truths with such care, such warmth, and such humanity that even the heaviest moments feel accessible for children.
Recommended for ages 7+, it’s powerful without being frightening, honest without being overwhelming, and hopeful without being sugar‑coated.
Engaging Enough for a 5‑Year‑Old and a Teenager (Miracles Do Happen)
I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how Posie, at just 5, would manage. She’s usually the first to wriggle, whisper, or ask loudly if it’s nearly finished. But she was spellbound. Completely still, wide‑eyed, taking in every moment.
Jimmy, at 13, is at that age where enthusiasm is rationed like gold dust, yet even he was hooked. And Raffie, 8, who is probably the target audience, was utterly absorbed.
It’s rare to find a production that hits all three age groups with equal force, but this one does it effortlessly. It’s engaging, funny in all the right places, and deeply moving in others. The kind of show that makes you laugh one minute and swallow a lump in your throat the next.
A Teacher’s Seal of Approval
Jonny, who spends his days wrangling Year 4s, came out of the theatre saying he wished he could take his entire class. And honestly, I get it. This is the kind of story that sparks conversations — the important ones. About kindness. About difference. About what it means to welcome someone who needs welcoming.
It’s the kind of theatre that doesn’t just entertain children; it shapes them.
Staging, Movement, Acting — All Absolutely Spot On
The staging is clever without being terribly complicated and using movement with physical storytelling keeps even the youngest audience members engaged – I was very impressed with tiny details which looked simple but must have been very cleverly crafted and the use of the school gymnasium apparatus was inspired. The actors switch between characters, both children and adults, in such a seamless way it’s barely even noticeable which is very important for smaller children in particular, and there’s an energy to the whole production which gifts it beautiful execution.
A Show That Stays With You
I saw Hamilton in the West End the week before — a show I adore — and yet I enjoyed The Boy at the Back of the Class just as much, albeit in a completely different way. Where Hamilton dazzles, this production quietly burrows into your heart.
It shines a light on the parts of life we sometimes prefer to look away from, but it does so with such compassion and warmth that you feel grateful rather than confronted. It reminds children — and adults — that kindness is a choice, and a powerful one.
If you’re looking for something meaningful, something uplifting, something that will spark conversations in the car all the way home, this is it. It’s theatre with purpose, wrapped in humour, heart, and hope.
And if you’re lucky enough to be near Salford, Truro, Blackpool, Cardiff or Bradford while it’s touring — go. Take your children. Take your school. Take yourself.
Because this isn’t just a show. It’s a reminder of the world we live in, the people we share it with, and the difference a little kindness can make.