Almost 30 years after the original book was published, Unicorn Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and Children’s Theatre Partnership have teamed up to produce a stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s perennially popular novel, Pig Heart Boy. Adapted by Winsome Pinnock, with direction by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, this heart-warming production for ages 9+ explores themes of childhood illness, identity and relationships. We trotted along to the Unicorn Theatre this weekend, where the show is premiering ahead of a UK national tour.
Cameron (Immanuel Yeboah) is very much a normal 13-year-old boy on the outside. But inside his chest there’s a ticking time bomb – a heart weakened by a viral infection. And deep inside his metaphorical heart, Cameron’s got a big decision to make – Should he trade his damaged human heart for a perfect pig one, in the hope of getting his life back? Not only does the groundbreaking procedure come with big risks, but it’s also highly controversial and top secret, so Cameron isn’t even supposed to tell his best friend, Marilyn (Christina Ngoyi ). But of course he does, setting in motion a chain of events that could change his life forever.
It’s a bold and engaging production, that is generally well-pitched for the recommended age group, blending humour with the more meaty moments to avoid it being too scary or overwhelming. This does, however, result in a slight emotional disconnect in places, with the production only really scratching the surface of some of the big issues. We get a glimpse of the turmoil caused by Cameron’s illness, including the conflict it causes between his parents, but ultimately it feels like a relatively easy decision to go ahead with the transplant.
There’s only limited consideration of how scary it must be to undergo major surgery, let alone when you’re the guinea pig for a pioneering procedure, and no consideration at all of the legal aspects, such as the capacity of a 13-year-old to consent to such treatment. Similarly, while there is a seed planted about the ethics of killing animals so humans can live, the emotional sting is taken out completely by the decision to play Trudy the Pig (Chia Phoenix) for laughs.
Where the production is most effective is in the scenes at Cameron’s school, giving the audience a real sense of how he yearns to be like his peers. Early on, we see his exasperation at being treated differently by his classmates, who are all terrified of what might happen if he over-exerts himself. For Cameron, the heart transplant is not so much a matter of literal life and death, so much as an opportunity to really live. And that means being able to join in a game of Daredevil Dive. But Cameron quickly learns that the transplant won’t magically solve all his problems, as he still finds himself treated differently by his friends and frustrated by his own physical limitations.
The cast (several of whom have to multi-role at pace) are excellent, particularly Yeboah as Cameron and Akil Young as his Dad, Mike (as well as Rashid, Cameron’s Daredevil Dive nemesis). The evocative set and lighting design cleverly move the action between different settings (including school, the science lab and swimming pool) while constantly reminding us of Cameron’s heart condition.
Running at just over 90 minutes, it’s surprisingly long for a children’s show without an interval although this didn’t seem to bother any of the youngsters in attendance. Quaver is generally pretty fidgety but she was enthralled throughout, and (unusually for her) didn’t whisper any questions during the show. (Normally by around 10 minutes in she’s starting to ask about the interval and/or snacks). She fully followed the plot, which allowed us to have a great chat about it afterwards, opening up conversations about the issues that weren’t touched on in much detail.
Overall, Pig Heart Boy is a compelling production that successfully translates a beloved book to the stage and impressively engages the difficult tween demographic. Although it could pack a slightly more emotional punch, it offers plenty of little nuggets to keep the conversation alive after the show.
Pig Heart Boy plays at Unicorn Theatre from 26 January – 22 February 2025, ahead of a UK tour. We received complimentary tickets to the 2pm performance on Sunday 9 February.
Image credit: Ali Wright