Review: In the Mouth of the Wolf, The Barn Theatre Cirencester

In the Mouth of the Wolf is a stage adaptation of the children’s book by Michael Morpurgo,based on the true experiences of his uncles during World War II. Our protagonists are Francis, a dedicated pacifist and school teacher determined for peace, and Pieter, an actor by trade who believes fighting is the only way to secure that peace. The play begins at the end of the story, with an older Francis and his wife Nan reflecting on their journey and the hardships they faced during the wartime years. Crosscutting then transports us back in time and we follow the journey of the two brothers as they grow up and establish careers, to the moment they make the decision to enlist.

With a cast of only three but a story with over 20 characters, the actors’ multi-roling skills are really put to the test here and are beautifully executed. John Hastings is a dedicated Francis throughout, bringing the role to life with conviction and consistency. It’s a brilliant physical portrayal that effectively endears the audience to the “tall, big-footed” character. Shaun McCourt takes on the role of other brother Pieter and along with Helena Antoniou (who primarily plays Nan) the two seamlessly switch in and out of a whole host of other figures.

The staging of the piece is simple yet effective: a pair of grey sliding panels represent the back wall during more static scenes but open at specific intervals, in effect breaking the fourth wall. The audience is enticed into the world of warfare, with clever smoke and lighting effects depicting fighting on the front line. Lighting is well used throughout, creating a tense atmosphere at times when we are on the battlefield with the brothers, yet also drawing us into the more humble and warming scenes between Francis and Nan.

Costume is authentic to the era and use of a trolley to represent both the car and the plane is highly entertaining. There are some super moments of stagecraft combining lighting, sound and visuals to depict the danger involved in operating behind the enemy lines of occupied France, which really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Simon Reade’s script is very well written, with moments of warmth and an equal balance of climax and tension, The repeated use of the French saying ‘dans la gueule du loup’ (which translates to ‘in the mouth of the wolf’) is a clever thread throughout the story.

It was an absolute honour to enjoy this performance with author Morpurgo himself, who was present in the audience. And what a privilege to share this original work, which offers a glimpse into a personal story so close to his heart.

Written by Michael Morpurgo
Adapted by Simon Reade
Directed by Philip Wilson
Sound and Composer: Ella Wahlstrom

In the Mouth of the Wolf plays at The Barn Theatre Cirencester until Saturday 10 May.