Vamos Theatre brings back acclaimed production 'Boy on the Roof' to raise awareness of ADHD - with shows in Wolverhampton
Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, has unveiled plans for a second UK tour of its highly praised production Boy on the Roof.
The tour will run from 6 February to 9 March 2025, with performances in Birmingham and across the Midlands.
Previews will take place at Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton on 6-8 February, followed by shows at The Bridge House Theatre, Warwick on 11-12 February, and a performance at MAC Birmingham on 28 February.
Boy on the Roof tells the poignant story of an unlikely friendship between Liam, a teenage boy with ADHD, and his 91-year-old neighbour, Albert.
The production is performed entirely without words and features a talented cast of three actors—Angela Laverick and Emilie Largier, both experts in mask and physical theatre, and Cirque du Soleil performer Aron De Casmaker.
The show’s distinctive style includes full-face masks specially designed by Russell Dean of Strangeface, a full-length score and sound design, innovative film projections, and a creative set.
The visual nature of the performance makes it accessible to deaf audiences without the need for BSL interpretation.
Boy on the Roof has already garnered critical acclaim, winning an Offcom Award for its performances at MimeLondon 2024 and being named one of The Stage's Top 50 Shows of 2024.
The production was originally created through a series of Community Conversations across the UK, where the company worked closely with people’s personal experiences of ADHD, particularly those of teenagers and parents.
Rachael Savage, writer and director of Boy on the Roof had the idea that one of the characters could have ADHD after working with inspirational theatre-maker Gavin Maxwell, who was diagnosed as neuro-divergent in adulthood.
She added: “For Gav, when he was diagnosed with ADHD in his mid-30s, it was a huge revelation for him; the label he had always carried as a ‘bad kid’ had a reason behind it.
"I’d like Boy on the Roof to raise awareness about ADHD as a real condition that has a huge impact on a person’s life, sometimes negatively but also positively.
“We’re delighted that Boy on the Roof is touring again in 2025, bringing the experiences of life as a teenager with ADHD to a wider public.
"We’re very proud of how the show explores both the challenges and the positives of ADHD, and the ways that film, sound and lighting tell stories and create worlds - I think our audiences will love how that works.
"We’re looking forward to visiting all the venues, old and new.”
In its original tour, Boy on the Roof received glowing reviews, with The Stage awarding it a 5-star rating and describing the performance as “Exquisite.”
The British Theatre Guide praised the show as “Touching, funny, poignant, clever, impactful and technically flawless.”
The production’s Offcom Award recognises the excellence of short-run productions in off-West End London venues, further solidifying Boy on the Roof as a standout in contemporary theatre.
Boy on the Roof tours from 6th February to 9th March 2025. For further information and to book tickets go to www.vamostheatre.co.uk/boy-on-the-roof
