Pig Heart Boy comes to The Belgrade
Pig Heart Boy based on the novel by Malorie Blackman OBE, adapted by Winsome Pinnock, Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, at The Belgrade Theatre from Wednesday 2 April to Saturday 5 April.
Preview
Adapted by acclaimed playwright Winsome Pinnock and directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, this poignant adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s 1997 book explores themes of childhood illness, identity and the profound choices we make to survive.
Cameron has always dreamed of living a normal life: making friends, going to school, and diving to the bottom of his local swimming pool. But his world is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with a serious heart condition and faces an urgent need for a heart transplant. With time running out, Cameron is offered a new heart – as he finds himself having to face a difficult decision - how far will he go to get the life he desperately wants back?
The development of Pig Heart Boy is being informed by a group of young Creative Associates who have lived experience of health conditions and through the Unicorn’s partnership with GOSH Arts who have facilitated a relationship with the children, families and staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital, with a focus on cardiology wards.
To amplify the voices of children receiving medical treatment, the Unicorn’s Creative Hub has also been running workshops in hospital settings around the country to create a set of poems inspired by the young people’s stories and experiences. Participants take part in fun creative activities, see their contributions transformed into collective poems, and share their reflections and experiences with children from other parts of the UK. Curated by Pig Heart Boy director Tristan Fynn-Aidenu, and audio-recorded by the young people involved, the final work will be shared nationally – through tour venues, school resources and directly with children in hospitals.
Tristan Fynn-Aidenu said, “I believe this play will open up crucial discussions around organ donation, particularly within the Black community. The story of a Black child facing a heart transplant with a pig’s heart can provoke conversations about medical ethics and trust in healthcare systems. These are important topics that in some cases will be talked about amongst young people and children for the very first time. These are challenging but necessary topics and I hope the play will help dismantle some of the stigmas and encourage a more open dialogue.
“My hope is that young people who watch this play will grow up with a more informed and compassionate perspective on these issues. While it’s a lot to ask from a single production, I believe theatre has the power to inspire change and foster understanding. If this play can even begin to spark those conversations and provide tools for the next generations to build a better world for themselves, then we’ve achieved something truly meaningful.”
Asked what new dimensions the stage adaptation will bring to the characters and the story of Pig Heart Boy, author, Malorie Blackman said: I think the wonderful thing about the stage adaptation is the fact that you'll see real actors inhabiting the characters. It’ll be like walking in their shoes and seeing the world through their eyes. There's something really special about being in an audience and watching the play unfold before you. So, I hope audiences will be first and foremost entertained, but then I also hope the play will spark up some real debate and empathy amongst people.
Winsome Pinnock who adapted Pig Heart Boy for the stage was asked what she hoped children and their families would discuss after watching this adaptation of Pig Heart Boy? She said, “I hope the play will encourage discussions about how to support those living with chronic illness. Many families and schools are impacted by someone who lives with some kind of chronic condition which means that it's something that we all need to think about. I hope the play will encourage those families and school groups to think about those people and their everyday reality and how they might support them to have a better quality of life.”
Pig Heart Boy is a co-production with Unicorn Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, and Children’s Theatre Partnership, marking a thrilling collaboration between leading institutions dedicated to creating thought-provoking theatre for young audiences.
For times and tickets please go to: https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/pig-heart-boy
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