Valentijn Dhaenens: 'Words can change history if they are treated well'

We met with Belgian theatremaker Valentijn Dhaenens, to find out more about his plays, BigMouth and SmallWar, which are being presented together for the first time at the Barbican this week.

Through the study of over 1000 speeches, from the likes of Goebbels, Bin Laden and Bush, Dhaenens created BigMouth which examines how major historical figures have used words to manipulate people throughout time. Its companion piece, SmallWar, takes letters sent home from soldiers at war and discovers the human cost of conflict.

BigMouth and SmallWar run at the Barbican Centre until 17 September 2016.