No longer booking
  • Venue Alexandra Palace Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 8 March 2025
  • Running time 3 hours (including intervals)
  • Age guidelines 15+

Get tickets to Birdsong in London

Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss returns to the stage marking the 30th anniversary of his international best-selling novel.

This critically acclaimed show returns to London in a brand-new production, telling the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War.

A mesmerising story of love and courage, set both before and during the Great War, Birdsong stars award-winning actor Max Bowden (EastEnders), with James Esler (Litvinenko) and Charlie Russell (And Then There Were None).

Birdsong is produced by the award-winning Original Theatre (The Mirror Crack’d, Murder in the Dark, The Habit of Art).

Birdsong is playing at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London from 27 February to 8 March 2025.

In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down. As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, 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 as his world explodes around him.

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Birdsong and other shows:

Videos


Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details


Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Birdsong?

Starring Max Bowden as Jack Firebrace, James Esler as Stephen Wraysford, and Charlie Russell as Isabelle Azaire

Also featuring Joseph Benjamin Baker as Evans/Levi, Raif Clarke as Tipper, James Findlay as Brennan, Dave Fishley as Turner, Gracie Follows as Lisette, Sulin Hasso as Marguerite, Tama Phethean as Shaw/LeBrun, Natalie Radmall-Quirke as Jeanne, Roger Ringrose as Bérard/Barclay and Sargon Yelda as René Azaire/Gray.

Who are the creative team of Birdsong?

Based on the novel by Sebastian Faulks

Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff 

Directed by Alastair Whatley

Design by Richard Kent, Lighting by Jason Taylor, Music Composition by Sophie Cotton, Sound by Dominic Bilkey with Casting by Ellie Collyer-Bristow (CDG)

Produced by Original Theatre and JAS Theatricals in association with Joshua Beaumont & Huw Allen, Birdsong Productions & Wiltshire Creative


Important Notes

Content warning: This production contains nudity, simulated sexual content, strong language, sexual references, themes of war, death and violence and references to abuse.

Access Performances: Captioned, 5th March, 7:30pm

Venue Information

Alexandra Palace Theatre , Alexandra Palace Way , London, N22 7AY

Nearest Tube or Train: Alexandra Palace

Nearest Buses: W3 or Shuttle Bus

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of Birdsong

★★★★ "A staggering achievement" - Daily Mail

★★★★ "Uniformly excellent" - The Time


Frequently Asked Questions

Birdsong is playing at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London
The running time of Birdsong is 3 hours (including intervals)
The age recommendations for Birdsong are: 15+
Yes, Birdsong has matinee performances on the following days: Thursday, Saturday
No, sorry, Birdsong has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.