Boy

★★★★
Evening Standard, Time Out, The Telegraph, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Observer, Sunday Times

“The Almeida’s new production is the kind of thing to turn first-timers on to theatre forever” Radio Times

A boy.
At a bus stop.
Easily missed.

Master of observation, Leo Butler casts a sharp eye over contemporary London and picks out someone for us to follow. Someone easily missed amongst the crowd.

Following last year’s groundbreaking production of Game, the innovative director-designer team Sacha Wares and Miriam Buether return to the Almeida to bring this ambitious exploration of austerity-era London to life. They are joined by an award-winning creative team and an exciting young company of actors.

Written by Leo Butler, who has quietly established himself as one of the UK’s most talented political playwrights, Boy is an important new play about coming of age in 21st-century London.

“About as high-concept as mainstream theatre gets. Vivid…exhilarating”
Time Out on Game

“Butler’s outstanding new play.. Is a timely, savagely brilliant epitaph for the New Labour decade.”
Daily Telegraph on Leo Butler’s Faces in the Crowd

Boy Production Supporters:
Alex Timken
The Arsenal Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Sackler Trust

Play On
Alongside our production of Boy, the Almeida is working with our neighbour, Arsenal in the Community to bring young people’s stories centre stage. In this joint project, Play On, four professional playwrights – Leo Butler (Boy), Steven Camden (aka Polarbear), Charlotte Josephine (Perffection, Bitch Boxer) and Somalia Seaton (Crowning Glory, Courage Wonderland) – will work with 40 local young people over the course of six weeks, helping them to develop their stories and experiences into original monologues and short plays which express what is most important to them. The resulting plays will be presented by professional directors and actors on the set of Boy. Filmed versions and a longer Play On documentary will also be available on the website over the coming months. Through the combined strength of Arsenal in the Community’s established relationships and the Almeida’s artistic expertise, local young people who have not previously been involved in theatre will have the chance to experience an exciting part of their community which is completely new to them.

Play On is supported by The Arsenal Foundation.

Play On Performance
Sunday 1 May (Open dress for friends & family of participants) – 6pm
Monday 2 & Tuesday 3 May – 6pm
Almeida Theatre
Tickets: Free (book in advance on 020 7359 4404)

Answers Back
Thursday 5 May – 6pm
In partnership with OpenWorks, this panel discussion led by young people will explore their views on the world they live in and debate relevant issues with an audience of their peers.
The talk is open to audiences of any age.
Tickets: Free (book in advance on 020 7359 4404)