In the Mouth of the Wolf

Role: Set and Costume Designer

Excited to share photos from ‘In the Mouth of the Wolf’ a new Michael Morpurgo play, adapted from his book by Simon Reade, that I set and costume designed at The Barn Theatre. Brilliant to work with Michael Morpurgo again and a welcome surprise him attending my design presentation at the start of rehearsals! 

The play tells the remarkable World War Two story of Morpurgo's uncle Francis, a pacifist who’s spurred into action when his actor turned RAF brother Pieter dies in action, becoming a British spy working with the French resistance. It's staged as an expansive three hander featuring dozens of locations and characters. 

Philip Wilson (the director) and I worked closely to design a scenic concept to conjure up a TV studio, bedroom, burning plane for parachute jump, war-torn resistance France and many other locations across a period of decades. We decided on a cyclorama that could carry landscapes and backlit stars with a monumental, beat-up old wall stood in front of it which opened to create a metaphorical ‘mouth of the wolf’. A visual omen of mortality. Sam and Jess at SAS built and scenic painted these elements beautifully. Ridiculous Solutions made us clever flexible school desks, that could also become the car and plane, and a traditional blackboard. The success of the design was utterly dependent on Ryan Day's exquisite lighting. 

For the forty or so costumes, the brilliant costume supervisor Denise and costume assistant Bridget pulled out all the stops and found vintage wartime costumes, putting the rest together from amended store items and other inventive solutions. 

On stage the amazing John Hastings, Helena Antoniou and Shaun McCourt acted up a storm, having to contend with an astonishing number of quick changes, prop appearances and set changes. Top-quality stage management making it all possible. Thanks to Dan Weager for fantastic production management and everyone else at The Barn who were lovely to work with.

CAST:

Francis: John Hastings
Nan (and others): Helena Antoniou
Pieter (and others): Shaun McCourt

CREDITS:

Written By Michael Morpurgo
Adapted for stage by Simon Reade
Directed by Philip Wilson
Creative Producer - Anthony Houghton
Set and Costume design - Yoav Segal
Lighting Design - Ryan Day
Sound Design - Ella Wahlström
Head of Costume - Denise Cleal
Wardrobe Assistant - Bridget Griffiths
Production Manager - Dan Weager
CSM - Niamh Percy 
DSM - Erin Blake
ASM - Sarah Reid 
ASM - Gina Donnelly 
Set Build - SAS Works
Furniture Build - Ridiculous Solutions
Prop Plane Maker: Scott Wayland

REVIEWS

'The audience is enticed into the world of warfare... 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.'

★★★★★ Everything Theatre

MODEL BOX / STORYBOARD:

A few photos of the modelbox / storyboard:

COSTUMES:

A few of the many costumes drawings. These first three are for Francis in his basic, farmer and parachuting outfits.

Next are design for Nan in her 1950s swing coat, wedding overalls and the spy Christine.

Last is Pieter at university, a Milice officer and Auguste.

Here's a short film the Barn made about the design process: