The Hero Next Door

Face Front Inclusive Theatre presents the world premiere of The Hero Next Door. By Onjali Q. Rauf MBE
Directed by Annie Smol MBE and Jon French. Cast: Chi-Lin Nim, Katie McConnell, Paul Wild, Sarah-Jane Wingrove and Taj-Levi Matthews.

An exciting new play called The Hero Next Door by multi-award-winning author Onjali Q. Rauf
MBE, will have its world premiere and press night on Friday 19 May at 7.30 at the Dugdale Arts
Centre in Enfield, kicking off a six-week UK tour.

From the author of The Boy At The Back Of The Class, Onjali Q. Raúf MBE (Sunday Times
Bestseller; Winner of the 2019 Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story; Winner of the 2019
Waterstones Children’s Book Prize), The Hero Next Door is a ground-breaking new production
created especially for 7 – 10-year-olds celebrating difference, friendship and working together to
do the right thing.

Characters include Musa, who happens to be a refugee; Haley, an autistic girl who adores frogs;
and a would-be bully by the name of Melody. This unlikely bunch come together to save an elderly
neighbour from a con-woman posing as a carer, with thrilling and hilarious results.
Director Annie Smol MBE said, “We have an amazing, diverse group of incredibly talented actors,
backed up by a wonderful creative team. I love Onjali’s play for the way she manages to draw us
into the children’s world so authentically. There is a great balance between the insights and
learning from the children’s experiences, with a superb sense of fun and adventure as they come
together to save the grandad next door.”

The Hero Next Door uses film, animation, music and physical theatre to be accessible to all. As a
leading inclusive theatre company, Face Front has been proud to assemble a diverse collective of
cast and creatives, including disabled, non-disabled and culturally diverse actors.

Karen Taylor from Arts Council England said, “It was magic, excellent high-quality theatre for
young people.”

The Hero Next Door is Face Front’s most ambitious production to date.