Charlie Russell is Isabelle Azaire as Sebastian Faulks’ epic tale of love and loss Birdsong returns to the stage in a brand-new production marking the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel.
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00:00Good afternoon, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspaper. It's lovely
00:06to speak to Charlie Russell this afternoon about a fabulous production which is heading
00:10our way. It's coming in our area to Chichester, Brighton and Guildford, and it's Birdsong
00:16on the 30th anniversary of the novel. Incredibly powerful novel in which, Charlie, you are
00:22playing Isabel. Set the scene, where do we meet her and when?
00:28We meet Isabel right at the beginning of the play, just as we meet Stephen. It's Amiens,
00:351910, so before World War One, but as there is a rumbling of conflict, and that provides
00:44an undercurrent for Act One. Stephen has come to stay with a French family, to work for
00:52his guardian and to write a report on the factory of Rene Azaire. But whilst he is there
01:00and staying with Rene, he meets Rene's wife, who is much younger and seems to have, I think,
01:08Stephen, you know, a lot going on. And then I would agree, playing Isabel, there's a lot
01:12going on for Isabel under the surface. She's in an abusive, oppressive marriage. She has
01:18no agency. And she's very limited. And she's finding within herself and where she can,
01:28sort of avenues of freedom and independence, either by going behind her husband's back
01:36and helping the people who work for him, or by looking after his daughter with love and
01:41affection. But when she meets Stephen, a sort of door is opened into a part of her that has
01:50been closed off, the part of her that would really love some passion and love. And to
01:57truly be herself, she would be in love and passionate and caring for somebody else. And
02:05she gets to experience that and explore that with Stephen.
02:08But danger too, jeopardy too, isn't it?
02:11Huge danger and jeopardy and some pretty serious consequences.
02:19And you're on the road for the next six months or so with this part,
02:22and you will be discovering more and more about this part as you go on, won't you?
02:27Yes, we're very lucky as a company that the entire cast and crew and creatives are incredibly
02:34invested and committed to this show. And we're very, very proud of it. And I feel very lucky
02:40that I'm working with actors who we sort of, we never feel like we're done. Nobody thinks,
02:48oh, I've done this now, I've sorted it. So every night when we go on stage, or indeed,
02:52in the afternoon for Rastanet, is another opportunity to explore and develop and
02:58discover more about the characters and their relationships. And that is a real privilege
03:03as an actor to get to do every day.
03:05The point being, it's a process. You're suggesting that if you ever thought, right,
03:08we've sussed this, then you've lost it.
03:12Exactly. As soon as an actor thinks that they've nailed it, they've probably lost it.
03:18And along the way, you seriously impressed your dad.
03:22I did. So my dad is a huge fan of the novel Birdsong. And when I told him I was even
03:30auditioning for the play, he got very excited. And then I've been lucky enough to meet Sebastian
03:36folks and go to his house actually to read some of the script. And Sebastian comes to the show
03:42quite regularly. He's been extremely supportive of the process of Rachel Wagstaff, of Alastair
03:46Watley, and supportive of us. So I was a little cheeky, but I asked my dad if I could borrow
03:55his copy of Birdsong to read and take with me on tour. And when I opened it up, my dad had written
04:02me a note of support and love in the book. Well, I always had this plan. I then asked Sebastian
04:11to write a note in the book for my dad. And so I've been able to now give that back to my dad.
04:17And I think I might be off the hook for Christmas now.
04:21Oh, fabulous. How many times will your dad see this performance then?
04:25He's seen it twice so far, and he'll see it a third time at the end of the first leg of the run.
04:32Fantastic.
04:33Very lucky, very supportive family. Very, very supportive.
04:37I'm sure you need it in any acting profession.
04:40Yeah. Do you know what? Support from family and friends is hugely important for actors.
04:44And it means a lot to us, I think. And I'm certainly one of those very privileged people with
04:51really an exceptional group of friends and family.
04:55Fantastic. Well, lovely to speak to you. And all good wishes for the rest of the tour.
04:59Looking forward to seeing the show again. And it's coming in our area to Chichester,
05:03Brighton and Guildford. Thank you for your time. Great to talk to you.
05:06Thank you so much for having me.