'Birdsong' review

Malvern Festival Theatre

BIRDSONG (The Original Theatre Company Production)

The Battle of the Somme

Sebastian Faulks’ bestselling novel has been cleverly adapted for stage and is gracing Malvern Festival Theatre this week. Rachel Wagstaff’s play seamlessly glides between 1910 and historic events of The Great War. With France as the backdrop, the protagonist in this tale is Stephen Wraysford who relives his romance with the captivating Isabelle Azaire, the battered wife of a ruthless factory owner, while leading his company through the monstrosities of the Battle of the Somme.

Victoria Spearing has created the most magnificently imposing set that, with the help of Alex Wardle’s stunning lighting design, creates a perfectly atmospheric space to transport the characters into the many varied locations presented throughout the story. Director, Alastair Whatley beautifully choreographs the changes from one scene into the next, magically merging the different times and many locations.

A true ensemble piece, twelve talented actors present a multitude of parts, with a Joshua Higgott and Tim van Eyken also providing musical accompaniment. Jonathan Smith, although guilty, at times, of trying too hard and thereby losing the emotional truth, handles the extreme demands of the lead role securely while Sarah Jayne Dunn is simply exquisite to watch as Isabelle Azaire. Arthur Bostrum, most famous for his appalling French accent as the policeman in ‘Allo ‘Allo, quickly and flamboyantly discards that iconic role. Polly Hughes gives a notably fearless performance as Lisette Azaire and a prostitute and Tim Treloar is reassuringly consistent and strong in the ‘narrative’ role of Jack Firebrace, whose experience and ease on stage shone through.

This is an epic show, brilliantly adapted for stage and is bound to be a hit with fans of the book. War dramas are exhausting and often harrowing and this production delivers on both counts being sympathetic in word and deed to the great heroes of our times. In keeping with the subject matter, this tour is proudly supporting the charity Help For Heroes. Birdsong runs until Saturday.