A built by barn production
FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR
IN THE MOUTH OF THE WOLF
A built by barn world premiere
Written by MICHAEL MORPURGO
ADAPTED FOR STAGE BY SIMON READE
BARN THEATRE, CIRENCESTER
FRIDAY 28 MARCH – SATURDAY 10 MAY
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
“The heart wrenching true story of Morpurgo’s uncle.”
CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis, Executive Director and Producer Liam McMullan and the whole Barn Theatre team are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for the Built By Barn world premiere of In the Mouth of the Wolf by Michael Morpurgo, adapted for stage by Simon Reade. In the Mouth of the Wolf will open on Friday 28 March and run until Saturday 10 May.
World War II brought about an avalanche of tragedy, heartbreak and division, but what happens when that division is within your own family? Brothers, Francis and Pieter are in disagreement. Living in turbulent times as one bloody war has ended and another stirs in the near future, tensions are high, and they can both feel it. Francis is a dedicated pacifist, committed to peace and determined not to go backwards to a violent world. Pieter believes that peace can only be achieved by signing up to fight. The event that occurs after this is one that will change Francis’ life forever.
In the Mouth of the Wolf is based on the heart wrenching true story of Sir Michael Morpurgo’s uncles and stunningly adapted by Simon Reade (adaptation of Private Peaceful) with sensitivity and theatrical flair.
A story that will remain on your mind and heart long after you have left the theatre.
John Hastings (To Kill A Mockingbird with Sonia Friedman Productions, Corpse! at Park Theatre, Season’s Greetings at Manor Pavilion Theatre) will play ‘Francis’; Shaun McCourt (UK Tour of The Mousetrap, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with Elliott & Harper Productions/Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, The Windsors: Endgame at Prince of Wales Theatre with Runaway Productions as ‘Pieter’; Helena Antoniou (Hound of the Baskervilles with Theatre By The Lake, Love Them To Death as part of SFTW for The Edinburgh Fringe, The Snow Queen at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) in the role of ‘Nan’.
Originally written by Sir Michael Morpurgo and adapted for stage by Simon Reade, the Built By Barn production of In the Mouth of the Wolf will be directed by Philip Wilson with designer Yoav Segal, lighting design from Ryan Day, composition and sound design by Ella Wahlström, casting by Anthony Houghton and accent and dialect coaching by Jan Haydn Rowles and Zoe Littleton.
Writer Simon Reade said, “I am thrilled to be continuing my collaboration with Michael at the Barn. Iwan’s enlightened artistic direction, commissioning new productions of the innovative war stories (including Private Peaceful, An Elephant in the Garden, and Waiting for Anya), now has us interpreting a true World War Two drama told from an adult’s perspective. Do you stand up to tyranny, even it means compromising your ideals? Or do you stay stubbornly true to yourself while the world around you explodes? ‘In the Mouth of the Wolf’ is the Italian expression for ‘Good Luck’ on the opening night at the theatre, like ‘Break a Leg’: ‘In bocca al lupo’ – ‘You’re heading into the mouth of the wolf, good luck to you!’ ‘Crepi il Lupo!’ is the response: ‘Death to the Wolf!’ Overcome your fears; confront your voracious enemy. Compelling storytelling for our own dangerous times.”
Chief Executive and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis and Executive Director and Producer Liam McMullan said, “The Barn Theatre has a long-standing relationship with Sir Michael Morpurgo, we consider him part of the Barn family. In the Mouth of the Wolf is Michael’s most personal story, recounting the extraordinary bravery of his uncle, Francis Cammaerts who, amazingly, was also a relative of Jim Broadbent. We hold the privilege of bringing this story to the stage with great responsibility, and there is no one better to adapt it than our long-time collaborator, Simon Reade. We are also thrilled to welcome director Philip Wilson to the project.
‘In bocca al lupo’ an Italian idiom meaning ‘into the wolf’s mouth’ is a traditional good luck wish in opera and theatre. It feels particularly fitting as we embark on this powerful and deeply personal production.”
In the Mouth of the Wolf is a Built by Barn production.
Since launching in 2018, the Barn Theatre has gained national recognition having produced over 20 Built by Barn shows and being awarded The Stage Awards’ Best Fringe Theatre of the Year Award 2019. In 2023, the theatre celebrated its fifth anniversary with a season that included world premieres of Simon Reade’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Waiting For Anya, Jonathan Lynn’s final instalment of his classic series I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I Can’t Quite Remember, as well as a reimagined revival production of the musical Once and the world premiere of a musical adaptation of Treasure Island. 2024 saw Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Fiend, Constellations, Midsummer, Stones in His Pockets, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Room 13 and The Three Musketeers: Trois. 2025 started with A Role To Die For and are looking forward to In the Mouth of the Wolf, Educating Rita, Friends! The Musical Parody, Haywire, The Last Five Years before finishing the year with A Christmas Carol.
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