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This production is recommended for ages 6+.
Performance dates
25 April - 18th July 2026
Run time: 2hrs 30mins
Includes interval
Based on the international best-selling memoir, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a celebration of human ingenuity and the courage to dream in the face of impossible odds. Playing a limited run at @sohoplace, book official tickets to this bold and uplifting West End premiere today.
Inspired by the extraordinary true story of William Kamkwamba. In drought-stricken Malawi, a 13-year-old boy dares to dream when no one else believes. As crops fail and hope fades, he turns discarded scraps and library books into a bold plan: build a windmill to save his village. Driven by imagination, grit and determination, William’s journey proves that even the smallest ideas can spark life-changing hope.
A new West End musical tells the inspiring true story of William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi who defied impossible odds to bring electricity and hope to his village.
In drought-stricken Malawi, 13-year-old William faces famine and the loss of his family’s crops. Unable to continue school due to fees, he spends his days in the local library. There, he discovers books on science and energy. Using scrap materials and sheer determination, William builds a windmill to generate electricity and pump water for his village. His ingenuity transforms his community and eventually earns him international recognition.
William’s journey is real. Born in 1987 in Wimbe, Malawi, he taught himself engineering through books and hands-on experimentation. The windmill he created powered lights and radios, and later helped irrigate farmland. His story of creativity, persistence, and hope has inspired millions worldwide and became an internationally bestselling memoir
29 Jan, 2026 | By Hay Brunsdon