"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind": on creativity & intercultural translation

At the age of 14, William Kamkwamba taught himself how to build a windmill from scrap materials to generate electricity for his family in drought-stricken Malawi. This inspiring story of resilience, innovation and entrepreneurship has been detailed in a memoir (2009), a film (2019), and now a new West End musical, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”. This roundtable with the artistic creators of the musical explores the creative process, inter-media and intercultural translation, and empowerment in the face of climate change.

George Harrison is the dramaturg for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. A living testament to the legacy of Empire, born in Mzimba, Malawi to a Malawian mother and English father. After spending his early childhood in Malawi and Zambia, George moved to England and grew up in Romford. As an adult, George has kept strong links with his family in Malawi, visiting regularly and maintaining an interest in the culture and politics of the country known as ‘The warm heart of Africa’. A childhood friend of writer Richy Hughes, George has worked on The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind since its beginning supporting creatives and cast with research and background knowledge of Malawian history, culture and music. He has had the privilege of spending time with members of the Kamkwamba family, including William himself as well as his parents Trywell and Agnes. This is George’s first professional production having worked in education as a mathematics teacher, college lecturer and headteacher. He was drawn to the production not only because it’s a story from the country of his birth, but also because of the example it gives of empowerment through education. George has been involved in developing resources for education, outreach and engagement in support of the production.

Richy Hughes is the book writer and lyricist of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Superhero (Southwark Playhouse) won 2018’s Off-West-End Award for Best New Musical. His adaptation of the kids’ book series ‘Oi Frog!’ was nominated for an Olivier Award. Mr Popper’s Penguins enjoyed runs at The Criterion and The New Victory Theatre, NYC, as well as extensive UK and US tours. Richy is a member of BML Workshop and MMD Lab.

Tim Sutton is the composer and lyricist for The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Tim has written music for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe and commercial theatre, most recently The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC) and a bilingual BSL/English production of Antony and Cleopatra (Globe). Other RSC productions include As You Like It, Titus Andronicus, The Two Noble Kinsmen and Women Beware Women. Productions for the Globe include a one night only Twelfth Night, a one night only Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Measure for Measure at the Sam Wanamaker. Other theatre music includes The Lavender Hill Mob (Cheltenham), Dreamfighter (Lichfield Festival), The Bacchae (National Theatre of Scotland), As You Like It (Wyndham's) and As You Desire Me (Playhouse). His opera Cycle Song (lyrics by Ian McMillan) won the Royal Philharmonic Society Learning & Participation Award 2012. He is twice recipient of the Stiles and Drewe Best Song Award, and won the Vivian Ellis Prize for Beauty and the Beast. Other musicals include To the Streets! (Book by Roy Williams), The Secret Garden (West Yorkshire Playhouse), and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (with Richy Hughes, Kenny Wax Productions). Tim writes songs and music for radio, including Mother Courage, The Now Show, Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz and Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar (Series 1-5). Tim is committed to the development of musical theatre writing. He has been a facilitator for the Book, Music and Lyrics workshop (BML) since its inception in 2011. He tutored on the Writers’ Lab at Birmingham Hippodrome Department of New Musical Theatre.

Denisa Kostovicova is Professor of Global Politics at the LSE European Institute. She is a leading scholar of conflict and peace processes, and the author of and . Professor Kostovicova has also edited a number of volumes on post-conflict reconciliation, justice and civil society. Professor Kostovicova’s award-winning academic research has informed policy making at the EU, UN, and in the UK.

Established in 1991, the LSE European Institute is a world-leading centre for the study of Europe in its global context. With eight master’s degrees and a doctoral programme, a vibrant research community, and a world-leading public events programme, our work spans Political Economy, Politics & Policy, Culture & Society, and Migration.

Follow us: Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Twitter, YouTube, and Soundcloud.

Join our mailing list to receive news about EI events.

Contact us at [email protected].

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

LSE Lecture Theatre, Centre Building (CBG), Houghton Street, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App