The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind at the Soho Place Theatre

This musical is based on the extraordinary true story of how 13-year-old William Kamkambwa saved his village in Malawi from the effects of drought by building a windmill that was used to produce electricity to run a pump to provide water. He did this by using bits and pieces he found at a scrap yard! 

Soho Place is a small ‘in the round’ theatre and on this occasion our group were in the front row, so as the actors treated the audience as if they were extras playing villagers, we felt very involved in the proceedings. From the get go the energy was incredible. The colour, music and sounds of Africa transported us to this dry poverty stricken area as we watched this young lad trying to convince his sceptical family and friends that he could build a windmill and consequently save the village from starvation. 

This idea originally stemmed from his curiosity about how the dynamo on his dad’s bike worked! The climax was watching the windmill being put together on stage and see William climb up to start it up, Such a spectacular moment. Another play worthy of a standing ovation and enjoyed very much by theatre group members who attended.

Contributed by Pat Ward (performance on 4th June 2026)