A boy in a black-and-blue striped shirt stands in an elevator looking in disbelief at his reflection, his left hand transformed into an animal claw, next to him the yellow title “Kleiner Werwolf”.

Young Werewolf
© SLT / Christian Krautzberger

Young Werewolf

Cornelia Funke

Adapted for the stage by Anna Lukasser-Weitlaner

Children's play based on the eponymous book

Synopsis

Matt cautiously glances in the bathroom mirror. Yellow eyes are staring back at him from a horrible, hairy monster’s face. His skin itches, and fur is growing all around the bite on his hand. This is an emergency! Matt covers himself with a sheet and sneaks off to their secret hiding place to meet his best friend, Lisa. It soon becomes clear that Matt does not have rabies but is transforming into a werewolf.

While trying to find a way to stop the transformation, Matt discovers that he likes his new abilities. He is no longer the little boy who is scared of the dark. He feels an enormous power within himself; he can growl terrifyingly, and he even chases away the school’s bullies. Matt could really enjoy being a werewolf – if it were not for Lisa, who misses her old friend. And then there is the intrusive biology teacher who is hunting him …

With “Young Werewolf”, the world-famous children’s book author Cornelia Funke created a mystical story about freedom, self-acceptance, friendship and courage.

Maria-Magdalena Müller for the first time presents her own vision of theatre for young audiences with her production of “Young Werewolf”. Geraldine Massing, whose imaginative work has charmed young audiences in “The Lorax”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business”, contributes dreamy stage and costume designs.