Review: Pig Heart Boy, Unicorn Theatre

Pig Heart Boy has an absolute dream of a creative team – a best-selling book by Malorie Blackman is adapted for the stage by Winsome Pinnock and directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu! Cap that with a cast of top talent and you have a thought-provoking, funny and deeply human show that leaves its young audience grinning, with both their hearts and brains racing.

This impressive production for ages 9-13 tells the tale of 13-year-old Cameron, who needs a heart transplant or he’ll die. When he’s offered a pig’s heart in an experimental operation he accepts, but then must face the consequences of his decision. The story comes with massive themes to consider – and loads of them. There are questions of ethics, loyalty and honesty, ideas of identity, family, personal power and integrity, the influence of the press and the temptations of cold hard cash. It’s a lot, but all couched brilliantly in a funny, emotional and technically striking show that is paced perfectly to give time for reflection.

This adaptation stays admirably close to the original book yet energises the story in leaping from page to stage. The characters come vibrantly to life, with Fynn-Aiduenu’s signature balance of comedy and insightful realism giving superb texture and contemporary relevance to the performances. Immanuel Yeboah as Cam is a fabulously believable teenager, shifting seamlessly from fatigued underdog to cocky show-off, then to vulnerable grandson. The character of Dr Bryce is quite dry in the book, but is here given wings by Tré Medley, playing him initially with a hilarious comic touch, before glamour slides into a gloss and the credibility of his proposals become somewhat dubious. 

The ensemble work brilliantly together, multi-roling through distinctly drawn, beautifully portrayed characters that bring a range of humanity to the story. The banter between the teens is wholly engaging and funny: I nearly choked laughing at a throwaway line referencing Mr Fezziwig’s party. There’s glorious movement work (DK Fashola) across the board, most noticeably in the wonderful underwater scenes, but also in the tiny details that make each character unique and recognisable. 

It’s a visually impressive show, with Andrew Exeter’s futuristic lighting design using a huge core of fluxing fluorescent tubes to suggest arteries and connectivity. He immerses the stage in a watery wash, or boldly envelopes the audience in a space theme, creating a vibrant space where Cam’s imagination can be seen to thrive. Paul Wills’ set design combines racking and an assortment of large speakers used flexibly and with video inserts to describe new locations or to underscore the insistent sound of a beating heart within the lively sound design from XANA.

One crucial scene doesn’t quite work for me. Playing Trudy the pig as comic has its appeal, but does mean that Cam remains somewhat distanced from the reality of killing the animal to save himself. With no blood visibly on his hands in the subsequent attack, the point lacks adequate balance. Additionally, at 90 minutes runtime the show feels a little long (a short interval really wouldn’t hurt), although it certainly held the attention of the enthusiastic audience. 

Finally, let’s briefly mention what else we saw on stage tonight, aside from a skilfully executed, thought-provoking, funny and entertaining show: a courageous Black boy who is the smartest in his class; a young Black girl who believes she can get a PhD; a Black man who can openly cry and tell his son he loves him; an immensely talented Black cast and crew. This is great theatre doing an important job of normalisation and inclusion without having to say that’s what it’s doing. That makes my heart beat faster!

Based on the novel by: Malorie Blackman
Adapted by: Winsome Pinnock
Directed by: Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu
Design by: Paul Wills
Lighting Design by: Andrew Exeter
Sound Design & Compositions by: XANA
Movement Direction by: DK Fashola
Video Design by: Jack Baxter

Pig Heart Boy is aimed at ages 9-13
and runs at the Unicorn Theatre until 22nd February.