The Little Big Things: Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Joyful musical based on the real story of a 17-year-old British rugby player's paralysis
Year: 2024
Watch now on National Theatre At Home
Poignant, playful and joyful musical based on the life of Henry Fraser who, at 17, was a promising rugby player with a place at Saracens Academy - then was paralysed from the neck down while diving on a post-exam holiday in Portugal. Later in life, Henry became an artist who paints with his mouth and described this musical about his experiences as 'something pretty special'.
It's hard to disagree. The older Henry (Ed Larkin) narrates the story from a wheelchair, picking out a 'Sliding Doors' moment when his passport was out of date and he almost couldn't go. He talks to his younger self (Jonny Amies) a lot, explaining what's coming next and what's happening elsewhere - there's a natural poignancy to the story and particularly to the two Henrys' very different perspectives but, like all the best true stories of this kind, it's the way it finds the joy and the hope that really makes this special. A musical is a good medium for that, because it leans so naturally towards a tone of celebration.
It also excels at showing you everyone else's perspective, from the doctor treating Henry to his physio, friends and parents, so you get to see the story from all angles.
