Birdsong at Theatre Royal Nottingham Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks was first published over 30 years ago, and Rachel Wagstaff’s stage version is playing this week at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal. It is set before the First World War and tells the story of the soldiers and their families’ struggles during this period.
Directed by Alistair Whatley and with stage design by Richard Kent, this epic novel brought to the stage was much anticipated. I had read the book in my 20s and was captivated by Faulks’ writing, the characters, and the story.
The set is simple with props that work smoothly to adapt for a battlefield, factory or living room. Combined with the lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by Dominic Bilkey the essence of war is captured perfectly on stage. This production enlisted a military advisor, Tony Green, to ensure that the soldier experiences were authentic as possible.
The production opens in the 1990s as we meet John Wraysford, who is visiting the French battlefields, looking for someone. He tells a passing gardener the story of what brought him there and who he is looking for.
Rewind to France in 1909, and Rene Azaire (played by Sargon Yelda) a mean factory worker focused on profits is meeting a young Stephen Wraysford (played by James Esler making his professional debut!) from Britain. Azaire needs investment to keep up with production demands. He looks to be making army uniform which Wraysford questions.
Invited back to the family home he meets Isabelle, Azaire’s beautiful and much younger wife (played by Charlie Russell) and Lisette (played by Gracie Follows) who he learns is Azaire’s daughter from his first wife who died. Lisette falls for Wraysford who is kind, charming and charismatic – he makes carvings of their faces from wood and reads their palms to tell them their fortune.
Wraysford discovers Isabelle sneaking food to some of the factory workers who she knows her husband underpays and he keeps her secret. They fall in love and embark on a steamy love affair behind Azaire’s back. When he captures them the pair flee just as the Germans arrive signalling the start of World War 1.
The play is divided into three sections with two intervals and the second section focuses on World War1. At this time Wraysford is leading men who are fighting for the British Army, again in France, and it is revealed that Isabelle has left him and he is looking for her. The troop confide their deepest secrets and fears in each other. Jack Firebrace, played by Max Bowden (Eastenders) has an 8 year old son who he discovered is ill back in England. Tipper, played by Raif Clarke, admits he is only 15 and lied about his age to join, and finds the war to be overwhelming. The letters and packages from their families at home is the only thing keeping them going.
The third section, after a short 10 minute interval, is post war aftermath. Wraysford has survived but is in bits. He manages to track down his love but she has returned to her husband out of fear He meets up with her sister, Jeanne, played by Natalie Radmall-Quirke who tells him that Isabelle has been disfigured and when he meets her she tells him she is now living with a German solider. Other secrets emerge and the drama continues.
Having read the book and it having such a huge impact on me this play had high standards to meet. It was really enjoyable but I did feel it was overly long (3 hours) and had missed out some key parts of the novel which it revealed differently spoiling the flow. On its own, however, it is a brilliant piece of theatre and perhaps to bring the whole of the novel to the stage would be impossible.
It is gripping, epic, shocking and even funny in parts so I would recommend it but I don’t think anything can live up to the original novel.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets are from £ £15.50 to £40.50 | trch.co.uk