Boy at the back of the class (Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, 15.02.2024)

The story of Ahmet, the Syrian refugee boy (written by Onjali Q. Raúf) was essentially written from a children's perspective and for children’s audience but it addresses (in a very profound way) to adults, too. Although the main protagonists are children, the "refugees" topic and its solution seems to be very much an “adult” affair. Or, does it? Could it be possible that nine-year-old children actually take the matter in their hands and act resolutely and wholeheartedly to resolve it? Because this is precisely what happened in this story. Despite several adults wanting to help Ahmet to find his parents (mostly advising children to trust the authorities), it was the decisive, brave and dangerous action taken by children that moved the mountain.

This story is very emotional and moving and Monique Touko (the director) respected it. She directed it so unobtrusively, so naturally that we didn’t even notice we were in the theatre. I mean within the first 5 or 10 minutes of the performance we already believed that those young adults on the stage were the children they represented and we witnessed the story through their eyes. She didn't add any unnecessary drama or pain to it because, as she said, there was already enough of it as it stood. She just wanted to be as authentic as possible. She even visited a primary school to see the children of that age group and observed how they played, moved and interacted with each other. She also talked to them to understand how they chose whom they like or dislike and why, whom they trust and how they deal with difficult situation (for example children-bullies).

The staging and lightning were simple yet very functional, seamlessly moving between the outdoor playground, indoor classroom, house interior, street and Buckingham palace. The cast was incredibly well chosen, a handful of young and very talented adult actors (Sasha Desouza-Willock, Abdul-Malik Janneh, Petra Joan-Athene, Gordon Millar, Zoe Zak, Priya Davdra and others) playing 9-year-old children with such ease and honesty. (I’m sure they must have enjoyed playing those brave and yet still playful children enormously).

This was definitely one of the most emotional evening at the Rose theatre I have witnessed and I would recommend to everyone to see and experience the story of Ahmet, the Syrian boy, who was so lucky to have such kind and good hearted friends.