Twelve-year-old Sam Wilson is convinced that he will be named Head Boy, so when he realises that he has a rival for the position, his jealousy leads him into increasingly awkward and hilarious situations.
Written and performed by James Akka, this 60-minute, one-person show will have you laughing throughout. Akka bubbles with the energy of a pre-teen as he and his power-point presentation take us through the circumstances leading up to Sam’s apology. From worrying about the volume of his hair, to a disastrous attempt to gain popularity by playing football, the neurotic and likeable Sam catalogues his mistakes while continually telling us how good he is at everything (except P.E.). With the gangly physicality of a boy in early adolescence, Akka fills the empty stage; his only set is the power-point screen hanging behind him, which he uses to underline the comedy of his story. Subtle lighting changes signal the shift to a more serious tone when he’s delivering his sincere yet somehow still self-aggrandising apology.
Directed by Caleb Barron for Maybe You Like It theatre company, the show is in London for three weeks, following a UK tour and sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024. It’s easy to see why it has been so popular. Along with a well-written script and Akka’s considerable comedic talents, this is a show that everyone in the audience can relate to – the stresses of school at an age when friendship groups, uniform policy and the school disco seemed like the most important things in the world.
The show runs at the Pleasance Theatre, London until the 9th of May. Tickets are available here: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/events/location/London
Reviewer: Charlotte Mansfield
Reviewed: 24th April 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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