WITNESS, adapted by Suzann McLean and David Fielding from Alex Wheatle's novella, transfers from Theatre Peckham to The Pit at the Barbican for three days in March 2027.
WITNESS runs in The Pit at the Barbican from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 March 2027. It is adapted for the stage by Suzann McLean and David Fielding from the novella by Alex Wheatle, and tickets are £21.50.
Cornell is excluded from school after a fight he did not start. He is sent to a pupil referral unit, where the other students have been pushed out of mainstream education for reasons of their own, and where he is taken up by Ryan, whose family carry a reputation. Ryan decides another student needs teaching a lesson and tells Cornell to help. What Cornell sees while that happens leaves him one decision: report it, or say nothing and protect the people close to him.
The production had its first run at Theatre Peckham last spring. It arrives at the Barbican presented by Theatre Peckham, Words of Colour and the Barbican itself.
It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and is guided at 12+. The Barbican lists strobe lighting, haze, smoke, violence, blood and strong language, and says the piece deals with mental illness.
Young Barbican tickets, for 16- to 29-year-olds, are £10, and access tickets are £11.50 with a free essential companion seat where one is needed. WITNESS is one of nine events in the Barbican's spring 2027 theatre and dance season.
