First touring production of Birdsong

A dynamic cast of 12 shape Faulks’s much-loved wartime epic into an intimate story of love and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of the Western Front.

The production arrives from Wednesday 24 – Saturday 27 April (7.30pm) at The Hawth Crawley after the recent announcement of a historic commemoration ceremony of the centenary of the start of World War I, to be held on Remembrance Day, 2014. Sebastian Faulks has been invited to sit on the advisory board for this event.

In pre-war France, young Englishman Stephen Wraysford embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with his host’s wife, Isabelle Azaire. As civil unrest mounts and war breaks in on the idyll of his former life, Stephen finds he must now lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with unprecedented horror, the war-hardened Stephen clings to the shrinking memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

Birdsong was ranked 13th in the 2003 BBC survey The Big Read, finding the nation’s favourite book.

The novel was adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and opened at the Comedy Theatre, London (2010), and more recently was adapted for TV by Abi Morgan for a BBC 1 series (Jan 2012). This vivid and ambitious new production follows the launch of Sebastian Faulks’s latest novel A Possible Life (Sept 2012). He was appointed CBE in 2002 for services to literature.

The Original Theatre Company was founded in 2004 by Creative Director Alistair Whatley. Previous productions include Vincent in Brixton (2009), The Importance of Being Oscar (2010), Journey’s End (2010), The Madness of George III (2010), Dancing at Lughnasa (2011, nominated for Best Production, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards), Twelfth Night (2011), See How They Run (2011), Our Country’s Good (2012) and Three Men In A Boat (2012). The Original Theatre Company is an associate company of Anvil Arts, South Hill Park and Eastbourne Theatres.

Birdsong Productions Ltd was formed in early 2012 by Anne-Marie Woodley, Jon Woodley & Alastair Whately to present this new UK Touring production of Birdsong.

Recognising the relevance this story has with the on-going impact of the conflict of war on everyday life the tour is proud to be supporting Help for Heroes.

Tickets: £22.50 (discounts: £20). Parties 10 or more: £15.50. Schools/Out:Smart £8.50 (teachers free)

To book please call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or book online at www.hawth.co.uk.