There were only a handful of props in this show – and no set. Walking into the theatre and seeing a completely empty stage meant I immediately assumed there was going to be one heck of a lot of reliance on storytelling. Sam Wilson (James Akka), in Class 8C, has a PowerPoint presentation ready to go. As the show’s title suggests, he makes an apology to his best friend for landing him in hospital. But, of course, the audience needs to understand how, and indeed why, he did what he did in the first place. Cue a parallel deck of slides providing context.
This energetic and quick-paced show is a hoot, and highly amusing. Wilson is the sort of schoolboy that takes himself seriously – very seriously – believing the sorts of things that schools like to drum into pupils, namely that academic achievement is everything. (It was only until I got to university that a lecturer, fed up with the plethora of questions from students about an upcoming examination, exasperatedly shouted, “Look, it’s only an exam!”.) At Wilson’s age – twelve – there’s much that he knows, but there’s also much that he doesn’t know, and as he recalls practically everything that happened in the run up to the announcement in a school assembly regarding who the next Head Boy is going to be, it’s a remarkably compelling story.
By its own admission, there are metatheatrical devices thrown in – and the narrative is highly convincing. One is very much inclined to believe this is the mind of an ambitious teenager who has, thus far, succeeded in pretty much everything he has a keen interest in – every school subject except Physical Education, plus some extra-curricular activities. Akka has a strangely likeable stage presence (‘strangely’ because Wilson as a character is one of those intense youngsters who isn’t the best at social interaction), and like many single performer shows, far more than just the one character is brought to life. Here, the audience hears from parents, teachers and fellow pupils, and there are even glimpses of the kind of corporate-speak could only come from management – in this case, in the form of communications from the headteacher.
With a smattering of audience participation – sit in the front row at your own risk – this was a delightful and hilarious experience.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Sam Wilson, Class 8C, is obviously the correct choice for Head Boy. And he’s got the PowerPoint presentation to prove it.
Join Sam for a hilariously nostalgic trip back to school, where the road to success is certainly no Geography with Mr Baker. (Geography with Mr Baker is massively easy.) As the race to become Head Boy intensifies, will Sam cause another boy grievous bodily harm? See title.
Writer and Performer – James Akka
Director, Co-Founder and Artistic Director – Caleb Barron
Producer and Executive Director – Elspeth Barron
SORRY (I BROKE YOUR ARMS AND LEGS)
Pleasance Theatre
22 April to 9 May 2026
