The Rose Theatre's production of The Boy at the Back of the Class was crowned the winner of Best Family Show at Sunday's Olivier Awards with Cunard , in a ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall hosted by Nick Mohammed. 

This is a first Olivier Award win for Kingston's Rose Theatre and for the playwright Nick Ahad. 

Marking its 50th anniversary, the Olivier Awards celebrate the very best of London's world-leading theatre industry. 

The play, based on the best-selling novel by Onjali Q. Raúf, was commissioned by the Rose and first premiered at the theatre in February 2024 before embarking on a UK tour that spring, in a co-production with Children's Theatre Partnership. 

The production was remounted at the Rose in February this year, and is currently on its second UK tour which runs until late May. The play has been watched by over 100,000 people since its premiere at the Rose. 

Rose Theatre's Artistic Director Chistopher Haydon and Executive Producer David Sloan were both in attendance on Sunday (12 April), alongside Onjali Q. Raúf, and the play's Director Monique Touko and Co-Revival Director Amy Crighton. 

For its 50th year, the Olivier Awards was televised in a prime-time slot on BBC Two and is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The production has just played a sold out week at the Southbank Centre in central London, and continues its tour at The Lowry in Salford until Saturday, 18 April, Hall for Cornwall in Truro Tuesday, 28 April - Saturday, 2 May, Blackpool Grand Theatre Tuesday, 5 - Saturday, 9 May, Cardiff New Theatre Tuesday, 12 - Saturday, 16 May, and Alhambra Theatre in Bradford Tuesday 19 - Saturday 23 May 2026. 

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Christopher Haydon, Rose Theatre Artistic Director, said when collecting the award on Nick Ahad's behalf: "I would just like to thank Onjali on behalf of Nick, myself and all of the producers, for writing a really extraordinary book and trusting us to make the show, which is currently on tour and has been seen by over 100,000 adults and young people and counting." 

Reading Nick Ahad's speech, Onjali Q. Raúf said: "I would like to thank Christopher Haydon, David Sloan and all at the Rose Theatre for believing in me, Hedda Beeby, Liam Gartland and all at Children's Theatre Partnership for helping make dreams real, and Director Monique Touko and the whole team for guiding it so beautifully to the stage. 

"The Boy at the Back of the Class is about a boy who wants a home. The hostility that successive governments in this country have shown to refugees should shame us all. 

"Our play encourages audiences to build bridges, not walls and that everyone deserves a place to call home. 

"Thank you Oliviers for supporting our message and for supporting the vital artform that is family theatre."