REVIEW: The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry | A Special Theatre Trip with Alice

Apr 17
4 min read

Boy with a red backpack facing away, text "The Boy at the Back of the Class," cityscape and clouds in the teal background, "Live on Stage."

Our Trip to The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry

When The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry first toured in 2024, I remember leaving the theatre feeling incredibly moved by its heartfelt story and powerful message. I had always hoped that if it returned, I’d be able to bring my daughter Alice along—and thankfully, that’s exactly what happened this time.

On Wednesday 15th April, Alice (8), my brother and I headed to The Lowry for the 7pm performance, excited for a special evening out together.

As always, my dad dropped us off at our usual spot opposite the Imperial War Museum North, and we made our familiar walk across the bridge towards The Lowry. We arrived at around 6.40pm, giving us plenty of time to collect our tickets and settle in before the show.

A girl smiles and gestures enthusiastically in front of a theater poster for "The Boy at the Back of the Class" at The Lowry. Bright and colorful.

Arrival, Programmes & Seating at The Lowry

Before heading into the auditorium, I stopped by the box office to collect my programme, which cost £6 and is also available from the programme stand.

We were seated in the stalls, Row O, seats 26–28, and I have to say these seats were excellent. They offered a fantastic central view with plenty of leg room, and we were positioned at just the right distance from the stage to comfortably take in the full production.

Alice decided she wanted a booster seat, which are usually available near the side doors in the stalls, but as none were left, I had to head to the cloakroom opposite the stalls toilets to request one instead.

Once we were all settled, Alice was more than ready for the show to begin.

Audience in a theater holding a playbill titled "The Boy at the Back of the Class" during a performance. Blue-lit stage in the background.

The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry – Our Thoughts

Having seen the production before, I already knew just how emotional and impactful this story could be—but seeing it again with Alice made it feel even more special.

The story follows Ahmet, a young refugee starting school in England, and the classmates determined to help him feel welcome.

From the moment the show began, Alice was completely engrossed. She was totally transfixed by the stage throughout, following the story closely and clearly connecting with the characters.

By the interval, she was already telling me how much she was enjoying it, especially how kind the children were being to Ahmet.

It was genuinely lovely to see how strongly the themes of kindness, friendship and empathy resonated with her.

Girl smiling and holding program titled "The Boy in the Dress." She sits in a theater, wearing floral pants; background is blurred.

Interval Ice Cream & Audience Experience

The first act ran for around 50 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval.

During the break, Alice was very keen for ice cream, but with the concession stand closed, we had to join the much longer queues at the main bar instead. After a bit of a wait, we all enjoyed ice creams before heading back to our seats for the second act.

While the queues were definitely busy, it was still a lovely little part of the theatre trip and gave us a chance to chat about how much we were already enjoying the show.

Smiling woman and child eating ice cream in a theater, seated with others. The child wears a green shirt with a Gruffalo design.

Final Thoughts on The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry

The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry remains every bit as moving, powerful and relevant as I remembered.

It’s a beautifully told production that introduces important topics to younger audiences in an accessible and compassionate way, while still delivering an engaging and emotional experience for adults too.

Watching Alice become so invested in the story made this visit especially memorable, and it completely confirmed why I had wanted to bring her when the show returned.

This is exactly the kind of theatre that sparks important conversations while still feeling warm, entertaining and full of heart.

If you’re looking for a meaningful theatre trip with older children, this is absolutely one to consider.

Further Information & Tour Dates

The Boy at the Back of the Class will be at The Lowry until Saturday 18th April 2026. Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website.

If you can’t make it to Salford, the good news is that The Boy at the Back of the Class is continuing its UK tour until the end of May 2026. You can find more information, including upcoming venues and tour dates, on the show’s official website.

If you’d like to read our more detailed theatre-focused review of The Boy at the Back of the Class, you can head over to our sister site, All About Theatre .

🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450

If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see The Boy at the Back of the Class at The Lowry, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #450 below. Our trip to the show begins at 11:30 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx0o7Y0F3ac