THE mesmerising story of the love and courage of a young man and his comrades during the horrific events of the First World War opens at Theatre Royal Winchester on Monday.

Adapted from the celebrated novel by Sebastian Faulks, Rachel Wagstaff’s play Birdsong marks the centenary of the outbreak of war.

In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their worlds upside down.

As the war breaks out, 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 and the idyll of his former life as his world explodes around him.

Peter Duncan, George Banks and Carolin Stoltz will be heading the cast of the 2014 national tour.

Faulks told Your Entertainment: “Both Rachel and I want this to be the definitive version of Birdsong on stage. The audience watch it and think, thank God I have never undergone all of this. These experiences are far outside the lives of most people but there is something about the way the production works which makes people identify and think, it could be me...”

The production, which supports Help for Heroes, runs until Saturday.

  • Sebastian Faulks and Rachel Wagstaff tell us why they’re bonkers about Birdsong in Seven Days, with tomorrow’s Daily Echo.