An award-winning novel adapted for stage is coming to Malvern Theatres this month.

Michael Morpurgo's classic novel, Private Peaceful, will be stopping in Malvern for five shows from Tuesday, 10 May to Saturday, May 14.

The Nottingham Playhouse production opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre on March 1 2022, before visiting a wide variety of locations across the UK, ending on July 9 2022.

Michael Morpurgo is the best-selling author of over 140 books for children, including Private Peaceful, The Butterfly Lion and Kensuke’s Kingdom.

The theatrical production of his award-winning novel War Horse was first performed at the National Theatre in 2007 and celebrated its 10th year in November 2018 with a return to the National Theatre. 

War Horse was released as a film directed by Steven Spielberg in January 2012. 

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Michael Morpurgo said: “Young men and young women who grew up just like Private Peaceful, at home, safe with their families, went off in their millions to the battlefields of the First World War from all over the world.

"What followed was universal human suffering on a scale never witnessed in human history before.

"The universality of the tragedy disguises all too easily that each one of those who went was a son or a daughter, loved and so often, lost. Private Peaceful was one of those.

"It’s so important to me, and not because I wrote the story, that his story and the story of all the others, is told and told again. It’s wonderful to me that through this extraordinary play, the story is being told in theatres all over this country.”

Malvern Gazette: Production shots taken from Private Peaceful. Production shots taken from Private Peaceful.

First published in 2003 by Harper Collins, Private Peaceful was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and won the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award. 

Director, Elle While says: “I am so delighted to bring this extraordinarily talented team back together to fully realise this powerful new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's classic story of love, loss and loyalty. 

"We cannot wait to finally be able to share this production, which relishes in the power of theatrical storytelling, with live audiences throughout the UK.”

For more visit the Malvern Theatres website.