Powerful play about professor’s fight for justice for her son to launch in West End

A hard-hitting play dramatising the real-life story of a Manchester Met professor’s campaign for justice for her autistic son Connor Sparrowhawk will premiere in London’s West End later this month.

Connor’s entirely preventable death while in NHS care ten years ago sparked a nationwide campaign spearheaded by Prof Sara Ryan and led to legal findings of serious failings in Connor’s care, as well as changes to the way that people with learning disabilities are cared for.

The extraordinary story of Connor’s too-short life and that seismic campaign has been brought to life by playwright and director Steve Unwin and will be performed at London’s Jermyn Street Theatre from April 25^th – May 25^th in a co-production with Theatre Royal Bath.

Actors playing Connor, Prof Ryan and their family will tell the story of Connor – lovingly nicknamed Laughing Boy – who was diagnosed with autism and learning disabilities at a young age. When he was 18, and during a particularly difficult period during which there was no other support available, Connor was admitted to an NHS assessment and treatment unit.

After being found unconscious in a bath at the unit following a seizure, Connor died. A later inquiry and court case found serious failings with Connor’s care, and the subsequent campaign by Prof Ryan helped to bring these failings for Connor - and countless other people in NHS care - to the public conscience.

A Professor of Social Care at Manchester Met, Sara Ryan has been involved with the scriptwriting of Laughing Boy from its inception three years ago. She said: “It’s been very important to me to have input into the creative process. As soon as I met Steve Unwin, who wrote and is directing the play, I could tell he just ‘got it’.

“I’ve been invited to sit in on rehearsals with the actors too, which will be fascinating, and quite surreal. I’ve been blown away by the script, which captures Connor’s personality perfectly. As well as some powerful scenes that will no doubt be hard to watch, I’m also expecting some real belly laughs because Connor was just so funny.”

The production promises to be visually engaging, with images of old home photographs supplied by Prof Ryan projected onto the stage, including the countdown of a celebration of the 107 days Connor spent in the unit a year after he died.

This celebration included contributions from New Zealand, Canada and France and incorporated cake sales, marathons, academic presentations, music, and the creation of a ‘justice quilt’ which has been on display in the People’s History Museum, Manchester, Oxford University, the Kings Fund, London, and in Northern Spain.

Manchester Met’s Department for Social Care has arranged for a coach party of 30 staff, students and people with learning disabilities to attend a matinee showing at Jermyn Street Theatre on May 14^th, which will be followed by a Q&A session with writer and director Steve Unwin. Following its West End run, Laughing Boy will continue at Theatre Royal, Bath, from June 4^th – 8^th.

Prof Ryan added: “Seeing Connor’s story brought to life will be both fantastic and hard-hitting. I’m grateful to everyone who’s helped make this extraordinary play happen.”