Rachel Wagstaff's Adaptation of BIRDSONG to Launch UK Tour; Kicks off 12 Feb in Eastbourne
By: Tyler Peterson Oct. 17, 2013
In 2014, the year that will mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, Rachel Wagstaff's stage adaptation of BIRDSONG, from the novel by Sebastian Faulks, will tour the UK. This follows a hugely successful and critically acclaimed tour earlier this year which was seen by over 75,000 people. The 2014 tour will begin on 12 February at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne. There will be a national press night on Tuesday 18 March at Birmingham Rep.
In pre-war France, a young Englishman Stephen Wraysford embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their worlds upside down. As the war breaks out, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle and the idyll of his former life as his world explodes around him.
Birdsong has become a classic of modern English literature and is taught on both the English and History syllabuses at schools and universities. Regularly voted as one of the nation's all-time favourite books, it has sold more than two million copies in the United Kingdom and more than three million worldwide.
The 2013 tour received 4- and 5-star reviews and audiences called the show 'simply stunning'. Sebastian Faulks is thrilled the show is re-mounting for 2014 stating: "Both Rachel and I want this to be the definitive version of Birdsong on stage. The audience watch it and think, thank God I have never undergone all of this. These experiences are far outside the lives of most people but there is something about the way the production works which makes people identify and think, it could be me..." Sebastian joined the 2013 company on stage in a cameo role during its 200th Performance in Brighton.
Rachel Wagstaff previously adapted Sebastian Faulks's The Girl at the Lion d'Or for BBC Radio 4 and she and Faulks are currently writing two screenplays together. She is a participant of Old Vic New Voices and her work has been performed at the annual 24 Hour Plays. She said, "When I first approached Sebastian, there were only five British veterans from the First World War still alive. With the death of Harry Patch in 2009, we were left without a single living connection to those who fought, for us. It seems more important than ever that we continue to tell the stories of those who gave their lives. Birdsong, while first and foremost a simply brilliant work of fiction, gives extraordinary insight into what it must have been like to witness such suffering on an unprecedented scale. I'm delighted that in the year which marks one hundred years since war was declared, The Original Theatre Company and Birdsong Productions are launching a second regional tour of their beautiful and powerful production."
The tour of BIRDSONG will continue to support Help for Heroes, after raising over £50,000 through collections and events on the 2013 tour.
BIRDSONG will again be directed by Alastair Whatley, with set design by Victoria Spearing, lighting by Alex Wardle for Charcoalblue and sound by Dom Bilkey.
BIRDSONG will be produced on tour by Alastair Whatley for The Original Theatre Company and Anne-Marie Woodley and Jon Woodley for Birdsong Productions Ltd.
2014 TOUR SCHEDULE
12-15 February Devonshire Park, Eastbourne
17-22 February Cheltenham Everyman Theatre
24 Feb - 1 March Tunbridge Assembly Hall (N.B. no performance Thursday 27 Feb)
3-8 March Salisbury Playhouse
10-15 March Gala Theatre, Durham
17-22 March Birmingham Rep
24-29 March Theatre Royal, York
31 March - 5 April Connaught, Worthing
7- 12 April Clwyd Theatr, Cymru
21-26 April Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
28 April - 3 May Theatre Royal, Winchester
5-10 May Northcott, Exeter
2-7 June Colchester Mercury
9-14 June Dundee Rep Theatre
17-21 June Leicester Curve
23-28 June Grand Opera House, Belfast
Further dates to be added
Photo by: Jack Ladenburg
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