From the outside, ‘Birdsong’ might seem like an average story from the trenches, yet it immediately subverts all expectations (provided that the audience have not already read the novel upon which the play is based).
The main story begins in Amiens, France, mere days before the outbreak of war, and immediately introduces us to a wide cast of characters, as Stephen Wraysford visits a French businessman for an inspection.
Here is already where ‘Birdsong’ starts to break its mould, and turns from a historical re-enactment to a complex dissertation on the socio-economic struggles of the early 20th century.
From the onset, we are given a slew of contemporary issues, portrayed through the events that unfold in the household and factory of René Azaire, including the role of women in society and workers’ rights.
Whilst these themes are not necessarily central to the plot, they give a cross-section of 20th century life, experienced on a larger scale than just the handful of characters displayed.
Fast-forwarding several years, away from the idyllic lands of pre-war France, we are transported to the front lines, in a forward trench participating in the Battle of Amiens.
Our cast of characters is now long gone, and the focus of the play shifts from the wider scope of the first act, which uses the characters as a collective analogy of early 20th century society, to the deeply personal stories of each soldier and their miserable lives.
We see the deteriorating mental state of the soldiers, how they are only carried by camaraderie and alcohol, and the sense of fear knowing they will die any day.
The play becomes emotional and subtle, many new characters experience loss, guilt, and loneliness, and as an audience we are swallowed in their despair, all while the fatal failure of the attack on the Thiepval Chateau unfolds.
In summary, ‘Birdsong’ is a great production, full of emotion and personality, as well as messages to the wider world about current or past social issues.
However, speaking from experience, younger viewers are advised caution; there are graphic scenes of sexual acts, nudity, and even suicide, which may cause disturbance.
Even so, it is absolutely worth a watch, as its deeply saddening tale leaves its mark on viewers.
