28 March – 30 May

“The heart wrenching true story of Morpurgo’s uncle.”

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.

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.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Monday to Saturday @ 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday @ 2:30pm

Address: Barn Theatre, 3 Beeches Road, Cirencester, GL7 1BN

Box Office (Phone): 01285 648 255 (M-F 10am-10pm, Sa 1pm-10pm)

Box Office (Online): boxoffice@barntheatre.org.uk

Photography credit: Alex Tabrizi

This listing appears on our front page until 11:55pm on Monday April 28th, 2025