Complete casting has been announced for Trevor Nunn's upcoming West End premiere of Birdsong, written by Rachel Wagstaff. Joining previously announced star Ben Barnes are Nicholas Farrell as Rene Azaire, Iain Mitchell as Berard, Genevieve O'Reilly as Isabelle, Lee Ross as Jack Firebrace and Zoe Waites as Jeanne. Performances begin September 18 at the Comedy Theatre.
Farrell's stage credits include Stuff Happens and Hamlet. Mitchell recently appeared in the West End production of La Cage aux Folles as well as His Dark Materials, Edmond and The Invention of Love. O'Reilly is best known for her role as Sarah Caulfield on the BBC series Spooks. Ross made his West End debut in Bugsy Malone and has appeared on TV's Eastenders and The Catherine Tate Show. Waites' West End credits include Nicholas Nickleby and she has also appeared in Mrs. Klein and Hedda Gabler.
Additional casting includes Owain Arthur, Billy Carter, Florence Hall, Paul Hawkyard, Gregg Lowe, Joe Coen, Jack Hawkins, James Staddon and Annabel Topham.
Based on the popular Sebastian Faulks novel of the same name, Birdsong tells the story of a young British man who begins an affair with a woman while visiting France before the start of World War I. Years later he returns to France as a soldier and seeks his former lover during a tumultuous battle.