Production images released for Birdsong 2015 UK Tour

Production images have been released for the 2015 UK Tour of Birdsong by Rachel Wagstaff. The tour stars Peter Duncan, Edmund Wiseman and Emily Bowker. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge). 

The play, which is adapted from the novel by Sebastian Faulks, opened earlier this month and tours until 4th July at the Richmond Theatre. The cast is completed by: Emily Altneu, Max Bowden (currently Justin Fitzgerald in BBC One’s Waterloo Road), Selma Brook, James Findlay (winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2010), Roger Martin, Liam McCormick, James Staddon, Cloudia Swann and Alastair Whatley.

Touring during the 100th anniversary of the First World War, Birdsong tells a mesmerising story of love and courage, before and during the war. 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. 

Interview: Max Bowden, starring in Birdsong 2015 UK Tour

Max Bowden is currently starring in the 2015 UK Tour of Birdsong. He is best known for playing Justin Fitzgerald in series 10 of Waterloo Road and recently played Peter in new ITV pilot drama ‘saved’.

Written by Rachel Wagstaff, Birdsong is adapted from the novel by Sebastian Faulks. The current cast also includes Peter Duncan, Edmund Wiseman and Emily Bowker. Touring during the 100th anniversary of the First World War, Birdsong tells a mesmerising story of love and courage, before and during the war. 

I recently spoke to Max about what drew him to Birdsong, who the show speaks to and making the transition from telly to theatre… 

Birdsong is very different to what you have been up to recently; what were your first impressions when the show came up?

Well I’ve got a key interest in military history as it is, so I was intrigued when I first heard about this. I knew of the book as a kid, but when I read the script I was so moved as the characters are not a reflection of the propaganda we saw at the time. They are just people like you and I who were in this ghastly situation, then there is also this love story within it. For me it is so truthful and there is no glorification of war or heroes in any way, they really were just people. 

And what drew you to the role?

From Tipper’s point of view, what moved me even more was this fifteen year old lad who was thinking it was a great idea from the propaganda, but then we get to know his story. You can’t imagine being on the front line at fifteen years old! He represents the panic and fear of what the war would have been like, that’s what drew me to the part.

Full casting announced for Birdsong's 2015 UK Tour

Full casting has been announced for the 2015 national tour of Birdsong by Rachel Wagstaff. Peter Duncan (pictured right), Edmund Wiseman and Emily Bowker will star in the show.

The play is adapted from the novel by Sebastian Faulks. The production opens on 4th February 2015 at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. The tour has been extended by a week, now playing the Richmond Theatre between 29th June and 4th July. 

Peter  Duncan returns to Birdsong as Jack Firebrace, having played the role in the 2014 tour. Known for his work on Blue Peter and BBC One’s Tumble, Duncan's theatre credits include: Denry Machin in The Card, Alan Ayckbourn‘s Things We Do For Love and Stan Laurel in Laurel and Hardy.

Edmund Wiseman (Richard II at RSC/Barbican) and Emily Bowker (What the Women Did at Two’s Company/Southwark Playhouse) will play the romantic leads of Stephen Wraysford and Isabelle Azaire. 

Review: Birdsong (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Birdsong (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 22nd July 2013

Birdsong is a play which is performed with style. Sebastian Faulks's popular WWI novel has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and, despite the show having a successful West End run in 2010, this was my first time seeing the production. Birdsong is not straight forward, the play goes back and forth in time telling the story of a passionate and dangerous love affair between Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman, and his host’s wife, Isabelle Azaire.