The Boy with Two Hearts

You know, I honestly believe he has twohearts? A heart that fails him, of course. Butanother that keeps him going - a heart thatwon’t be beaten!

A story of hope, from Afghanistan to Wales.

Herat, Afghanistan, 2000. A young mother makes a speech demanding freedom for Afghan women, angering local Taliban leaders who issue a warrant for her execution. With no choice but to run, the
Amiri family embark on a long and terrifying journey out of Afghanistan and across Europe with the UK as their ultimate goal.

Thrown into an unfamiliar world of fake passports and untrustworthy handlers, the Amiris must learn how to live with nothing and avoid capture at all costs. But with their eldest son Hussein’s life-threatening heart condition growing steadily worse, the journey soon becomes a race against time.

Will they beat the odds and reach the UK in time for Hussein to receive the surgery he so badly needs?

The Boy with Two Hearts is the story of a family in danger and a love letter to the NHS. This extraordinary true story reveals the courage and humanity behind each refugee story, showing that hope and a sense of home can be found in the most unlikely places.

This edition was published to coincide with the production at the National Theatre in London in October 2022.

Hamed Amiri was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and grew up under Taliban rule before escaping at the age of ten. He is a motivational speaker and influencer in the education sector, and a board member at Coleg Gwent, Wales. In 2016 he was awarded the Inspiring the Next Generation Award by the University of South Wales for services to education and young people. Inspired by his late brother’s passion for positive change in society, Hamed’s mission is to share his family’s story with a wide audience and change perceptions surrounding refugees and diversity.

Phil Porter is a multi-award-winning playwright and librettist. His work has been produced at Manchester Royal Exchange, Northampton Theatre Royal, The Unicorn Theatre and The Royal Opera House. His plays include Vice Versa (RSC), The Man With The Hammer (Plymouth Theatre Royal), The Christmas Truce (RSC), Blink (Soho/nabokov), The Cracks In My Skin (Manchester Royal Exchange, Bruntwood Award winner) and Stealing Sweets And Punching People (Theatre 503/Off-Broadway). Edits/adaptations include Moliere’s The Miser (West End, with Sean Foley), Middleton’s A Mad World, My Masters (RSC, with Sean Foley), Shakespeare’s The Tempest (RSC/Little Angel) and Janos Hay’s The Stonewatcher (National Theatre).