The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Birdsong at Original Theatre online

Birdsong at Original Theatre online | Theatre review
1 July 2020
Michael Higgs
Avatar
Michael Higgs
1 July 2020

Coming up with novel ways to produce plays is a serious challenge for theatre companies during the coronavirus lockdown. The Original Theatre Company is braving the task by presenting not only a recording of their brilliant 2013 production of Birdsong, a First World War play based on Sebastian Faulks’s novel of the same name, but by actually creating a new version filmed at the actors’ homes and cut together in post-production. The result is impressive, considering what it is, but it does come with its own problems – but it’s still a fantastically emotional ride with a solid plot.

To create the effect, all the actors filmed themselves performing their lines in front of green screens, and the editors filled in the background and mixed everything with appropriate sound effects and music. At times, the result can feel jarring; every shot is a close-up of the actors’ faces, in scenes with multiple characters they’ll occasionally be stacked on top of each other, and there’s practically – and understandably – no variety in shots or camera movements. This is a necessary result of the way it was filmed, but it still doesn’t help the production.

Thankfully, everything else is brilliant. The close-ups do offer the audience the full force of the acting; the costumes by Siobhan Boyd feel professional and authentic; and Dominic Bilkey’s sound design is apt and atmospheric. The plot – adapted by Rachel Wagstaff – may be a fairly traditional “war is bad”-type scenario with an interwoven love story, but it’s executed perfectly with a stark, character-driven storyline.

To top it off, the acting is outstanding throughout. Each performer is a stellar match with their character, with Tom Kay as Stephen and Madeleine Knight as Isabella being particularly strong – very impressive considering they portray a love affair without actually being in the same room! Faulks himself also makes a neat appearance by reading the narrative sections. Considering the quality of the cast, however, one would have hoped that they would have tried for authentic accents – here, the French seem to have curiously English pronunciation.

Despite its flaws, Birdsong is a great success which paves the way for yet more innovative ways of producing theatre during the lockdown. It will take some getting used to, given its limitations, but as the play shows, it’s not only possible to do, but also possible to do in a way which plucks at the heartstrings.

★★★★★

Michael Higgs
Photo: from the 2015 stage production of Birdsong (credit: Jack Ladenburg)

Birdsong is available to stream online from 1st until 4th July 2020. For further information or to book visit the show’s website here.

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Theatre

Rita at Charing Cross Theatre

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances

The editorial unit
Read More

“Theatre is totally unique… there’s simply nothing else quite like it”: An interview with Sir Howard Panter as the new cast of Jersey Boys opens at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Jersey Boys bring on a new cast at Trafalgar Theatre

Natallia Pearmain
Read More

All of Us at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Midsummer Mechanicals at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

★★★★★
Alexandra Fletcher
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: The Importance of Being Anxious at Museum of Comedy

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: Rome 3000 (Julius Caesar) at Canal Cafe Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Michael Higgs

Birdsong

★★★★★

Dates

1st July - 4th July 2020

Price

£12.50-£15

Links & directions

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteNo map

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Tips for creating a peaceful home
    Feature of the week
  • Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • “Film offers a way of looking at the past, the present and the future simultaneously. That’s its wonder”: Sarah Beddington on Fadia’s Tree
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Nope
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Five Days at Memorial
    ★★★★★
    apple
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure | Album review
The Computers at Rough Trade East | Live review