Cirencester Barn Theatre reveals cast for Michael Morpurgo adaption

The Barn Theatre will be showing Simon Reade’s stage adaptation of acclaimed children’s author Michael Morpurgo's Waiting For Anya from March 27 until May 5.

The cast of this play includes the likes of Christopher Bianchi as Henri, Tom Hendryk as Lieutenant Weissman, Jack Heydon as Jo Lalande, Andrea Johannes as Lise, Yiftach Mizrahi as Benjamin, Alison Reid as Alice Horcada, Perri Snowdon as Pierre, and Christopher Staines as Corporal Wilhelm.

They have also announced creative team which includes Mark Leipacher as Director, Asaf Zohar as Composer, Ceci Calf as Set & Costume Designer and Murong Li as Lighting Designer.

This will be the first stage adaptation of Morpurgo’s 1990 Carnegie Medal shortlisted novel, which tells the story of Jo, his grandfather and a widow who help smuggle Jewish children across the border from occupied southern France into Spain during World War II.

Michael Morpurgo said: “The wonderful Barn has put on play after play adapted from my books, and every one has been extraordinary and unforgettable.

"This is inspired by a true story of a small community living in their mountain village in the Pyrenees under Nazi Occupation in WW2, of their courage in aiding the escape of Jewish children over the mountains into neutral Spain.

"I cannot wait to see this production, to be transported from Cirencester to Lescun, to hear the music, hear the eagles’ cry, to live the story, again for me, but maybe for you the first time."

Simon Reade said: "Waiting for Anya is a story where no one is quite what they appear to be on the surface.

"It is profoundly moving and yet doesn’t invite our passive appreciation: it demands we take action, that we stand up and be counted.

"As our world continues to reel from the political mayhem...Michael reminds us in Waiting for Anya that we may be weak in body, but we can be strong in heart and mind and change our world for the greater good.”

More information can be found here.