Birdsong @ Theatre Royal Winchester
Birdsong is something of a phenomenon. Ask your friends and it’s pretty much a given that a good half of them will have read the book. The BBC mini-series was hugely popular and the stage show has been critically acclaimed too. It’s on the GCSE curriculum and, most impressively of all it’s the first show to be reviewed on this humble blog twice! Last year we saw a stirring local production of the play in Portsmouth and last night we headed to Winchester to check out the national tour.
This was my first trip to the Theatre Royal Winchester, a gorgeous little theatre absolutely bursting with charm and personality. It also has the distinction of having the friendliest volunteer staff around. Suffice it to say that before the lights dim I’ve already decided we’ll be heading back here at some point.
The lights drop and there’s no easing into things here as we’re straight into the action on the Western Front, a group of weary soldiers relaxing as sapper Jack Firebrace tells jokes. Peter Duncan may be best remembered to most (me included) as a Blue Peter presenter, but he’s a fine actor too who spent two years at the National Theatre. Here he plays Firebrace as an older and more world weary foil to George Banks’ Wraysford. Through the magic of twitter I discovered that it was Duncan’s 60th birthday yesterday, he doesn’t show it though as he performs with the conviction and immediacy of a much younger man.
Banks imbues Syephen Wraysford with a constant nervous energy and gets across that this is clearly a man still carrying the baggage of the summer in Amiens that forms the core of the flashback sequences. Wraysford falls in love with Isabelle, the beautiful and worldly wise wife of factory owner Azaire. Carolin Stoltz is a graceful and determined Isabelle who captures the characters innate sadness beautifully.
A fantastic ensemble cast play multiple roles (and in the case of Samuel Martin also the violin) each showing a knack for jumping from character to character. Special mention to Simon Lloyd who provides real heart as Arthur Shaw and to Jonny Clarke whose portrayal of the underage soldier Tipper is a guaranteed tear jerker.
There isn’t a poor performance here and the post-show collections for Help The Heroes mean that cast, crew and audience can all give a little back too… if you get the chance go see this!
