Laughing Boy
Published on 2. May 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
112 pages
978-1-83904-353-6 (ISBN)
Description
'So much magic. So much love. So much laughter. So much work. So much rage. And so many tears.'
Connor is, well, Connor. He loves buses, Eddie Stobart and Lego. He also has learning disabilities. When he dies an entirely preventable death in NHS care, his mum, Sara, can't get a straight answer as to how it happened.
But Sara and her family won't stop asking questions and soon an extraordinary campaign emerges. Demanding the truth, it uncovers a scandal of neglect and indifference that goes beyond Connor's death to thousands of others.
Sara Ryan's impassioned, frank and surprisingly funny memoir Justice for Laughing Boy is adapted for the stage by Stephen Unwin. It was first performed at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in 2024, in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath.
Connor is, well, Connor. He loves buses, Eddie Stobart and Lego. He also has learning disabilities. When he dies an entirely preventable death in NHS care, his mum, Sara, can't get a straight answer as to how it happened.
But Sara and her family won't stop asking questions and soon an extraordinary campaign emerges. Demanding the truth, it uncovers a scandal of neglect and indifference that goes beyond Connor's death to thousands of others.
Sara Ryan's impassioned, frank and surprisingly funny memoir Justice for Laughing Boy is adapted for the stage by Stephen Unwin. It was first performed at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in 2024, in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath.
Reviews / Votes
'An urgent look at our broken care system... compelling and heartfelt... a mighty testimony that will leave you furious' * The Times * 'A moving story about love, laughter and the indomitability of one family's fighting spirit... deft and shocking' * Telegraph * 'Heartfelt and colourful... a story told with love and fury' * Guardian * 'Hard hitting... balances the procession of grim, galling details against humanising, light-hearted moments... succeeds both as a tribute to Connor's family, and as a galvanising call for deeper compassion and greater support' * The Stage * 'Powerful... hideously timely... a shocking story' * Evening Standard * 'Gripping and thought-provoking' * Reviews Hub * 'A bittersweet docu-play about brutal neglect and apathy... a beautiful elegiac celebration of Connor Sparrowhawk's life and what it means to fight for someone you love... effective and enormously touching' * Broadway World * 'Startling and impassioned' * iNews * 'Touching... properly unnerving... always gripping and informative' * TheatreCat * 'A very powerful, beautifully written play that deserves to be seen as widely as possible' * LondonTheatre1 *More details
Series
Edition
stage version
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 128 mm
Width: 198 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
130 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83904-353-6 (9781839043536)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2024
Nick Hern Books
€15.49
Available for download
Persons
Stephen Unwin is a playwright and theatre director, whose other plays include All Our Children (Jermyn Street Theatre), which was acclaimed as 'brave and challenging' by The Arts Desk, and 'a gripping battle of words' by the Guardian.