Sebastian Faulks’ harrowing novel Birdsong has been adapted for the stage and has its first run at London’s The Comedy Theatre . This play has a star line-up, with director Trevor Nunn, and many wonderful actors.

Birdsong follows a young man’s journey through a great love and a great war. The play is split into three sections. The long opening act concentrates on the young Englishman Stephen Wraysford as he visits Amiens and falls in love with a married woman, played by the rather stiff Genevieve O’Reilly.

I found the second two acts more convincing than the first. After the interval Birdsong shows the vile horror of World War I, like I have never seen it portrayed before. Every aspect of the painful anguish and devastation is realised through haunting acting and clever dramatics. The stage is impressively constructed to show the claustrobic tunnels and trenches, and smoke effects create further atmosphere. Just before the second interval a great clash and cloud of powder wafts over the audience, an incredible sensation and evocative transition to mark the start of the war.

I loved watching Lee Ross who plays one of the central characters, Jack Firebrace. The kindness and bravery of this character within the turmoil of war gives the story real strength and substance, and Ross’s characterisation reflects this with a touching morality.

I left feeling moved and educated, and now would like to read the original book.

With Remembrance Day in London tomorrow, the show feels particularly poignant.

The play continues until 15 January 2011. Book Birdsong tickets here.

First up this week is news that the fantastic double whammy of Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is extending.  You’ve now got until 9 October to catch this pair of incredible shows. I’ve seen both, and can confirm that Roger Allam’s Falstaff is unmissable, and Jamie Parker makes a great Prince Hal.

London theatre’s other cast news this week includes a treat for Over The Rainbow fans. Jessica Robinson (my favourite Dorothy wannabe) will take over from Stephanie Fearon in Smokey Joe’s Café at the Landor Theatre from 20 to 22 August. (Fearon’s recovering from a wrist operation: get well soon, Steph!)

And I now have full cast details for Birdsong, the new play based on Sebastian Faulks’s novel, which opens next month. You’ll recognise Genevieve O’Reilly from Spooks, and Lee Ross from EastEnders, Ashes To Ashes, Life On Mars and The Catherine Tate Show. They’ll star alongside Nicholas Farrell and Iain Mitchell, both regulars at the National Theatre. You’ll remember sexy Hollywood star Ben Barnes is playing the lead…

Other September openings to look forward to include Spare, which marks the opening of the New Diorama Theatre’s first full season. This new play by Sebastian Rex promises to be a provocative look at sexual abuse, where, in an unusual experiment in gender-neutral writing and gender-blind casting, the actors will pick a role at random each night. Also opening Off-West-End next month is Love on the Dole at the Finborough Theatre. This Jagged Fence production of Walter Greenwood’s classic Great Depression text opens on 7 September.

Finally, Happy Birthday Apollo Victoria Theatre! The theatre is celebrating its birthday on the same day as me (although I’m not 80!) – 10 October – with a gala performance featuring West End stars past and present. The theatre has been entertaining London audiences since it opened in 1930, then called the New Victoria Theatre. It seems like only yesterday I saw my first West End show there, back in 1988, aged about 7 (Starlight Express, if you’re wondering!). If you pop along today, you can see another great musical, Wicked. I’m looking forward to bringing you more news about this special gala show in the coming weeks…

• Bond Girl Gemma Arterton is returning to the London stage in The Master Builder at the Almeida, joining the fantastic Stephen Dillane. Go Gemma!
• In other Bond film star news, Judi Dench will be voicing the The Giant in the Open Air Theatre’s upcoming production of Into The Woods. (She’s not going to be on stage: she’s recording her part in July for the August opening of this summer’s outdoor musical)
• And another British film star, Ben Barnes will appear in the forthcoming production of Birdsong, a stage adaptation of Sebastian Faulks‘ amazing novel. Personally, I can’t wait for this show open in September

In new show news, Five Guys Named Moe returns to London this autumn, opening at the Theatre Royal Stratford East from September. The award-winning jazz musical is heading back to the venue where it first opened 20 years ago!

And the most toe-tingling news for me this week is the RSC’s announcement that they’re heading back to the Roundhouse later in the year. Bringing back memories of the curious Shakespeare marathon that was The Histories, this time the company are presenting a repertoire of eight plays in 10 weeks, including Romeo And Juliet, Antony And Cleopatra, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and King Lear. RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd says:

“London audiences will be able to see our ensemble in full flight – 44 actors pushing each other to set the bar of their achievements higher. When they touch down at the Roundhouse in our specially built auditorium in November it will mark a significant highpoint, two years into their journey together.”

Brilliant news. (Read Boyd’s quote in full)

Finally, theatreland giveth and taketh away: the incredible All My Sons has extended to October (hurrah!), but the wonderful Oliver! is closing (boo!) in January 2011. Book now if you don’t want to miss out on seeing this fantastic London musical!