FIREBIRD ★★★★★ King's Head Theatre | Jan 9 - Feb 9, 2025


The late 1970s were the height of the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union. However, set against the backdrop of this simplistically bipolar world, FIREBIRD relates a love story that ultimately questions the binaries that are often equally, naively imposed on relationships. As the impulsive, charismatic and enigmatic fighter pilot, Roman, Robert Eades puts in a performance that beautifully captures all of those qualities. He is both daring and disarming, and ultimately opaque, as he relishes taking chances both personally and professionally. Eades' presentation nicely contrasts to the more timid and grounded Sergey played by Theo Walker, and the chemistry between the two of them is thoroughly credible. In this highly charged atmosphere, Sorcha Kennedy successfully manages to hold her own in the rather challenging role of Luisa. She succeeds in creating a character who is strong, resilient and an equal force in the triangle that emerges, although we never see her intimate interactions with Roman. This is a very strong cast which is nicely complemented by the work of Nigel Hastings playing the worldly-wise Colonel Kuznetsov. The production itself takes place on a thrust stage, but unfortunately, the direction does not always take account of this fact with some parts of the theatre spending too long looking at the backs of heads. Nevertheless, despite that shortcoming, this is a thoroughly engaging story with first-rate performances which should not be missed.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Steve Ullathorne

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