Firebird Q&A at the King’s Head Theatre. © Iris McCulloch
On a Soviet Air Force Base in occupied Estonia in the 1970s, a conscripted private falls in love with a young maverick fighter pilot. The true-life love story that enraged Vladimir Putin now gets its stage premiere at London’s King’s Head Theatre.
Inspired by the 1993 memoir of Sergey Fetisov and multi-award-winning 2021 film by Peeter Rebane and Tom Prior, this brand-new stage adaptation of Firebird stars Theo Walker as soulful Sergey and Rob Eades as dashing but doomed Roman. If caught during the height of the Cold War, their ‘crime’ of love would be punishable by five years’ hard labour.
Add to their love-triangle equation their best friend Luisa (played by Sorcha Kennedy) and a knowing comrade-colonel (Nigel Hastings) willing to turn a blind eye… up to a point.
The story comes to the stage for the first time after the film’s premiere at BFI Flare: London’s LGBTQI+ Film Festival, and the publication of the English translation of the original memoir. The stage play is written by Richard Hough, directed by Owen Lewis and presented by Olivier Award-winning producer James Seabright.
Following a sold-out performance, I was joined by the full cast and writer to discuss the real-life characters, the journey from page to stage via screen, bringing British humour to a Russian tale, James Bond and Star Trek references, life under Communism, geopolitics, misogyny, polyamoury and pulling faces – amongst other topics!
Firebird continues at London’s King’s Head Theatre until 9 February 2025.
Q&A video
Panel (left-right): cast members Rob Eades, Nigel Hastings, Theo Walker and Sorcha Kennedy, writer Richard Hough – and me! With thanks to Rob Bell.
Q&A photos
Photography by Iris McCulloch.
On social media
Signs ready for tonight’s #Firebird Q&A at @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social.
With Richard Hough, who adapted from the film & original memoir, + stars Rob Eades, Theo Walker, Sorcha Kennedy & Nigel Hastings.
👉 Any questions?
firebirdlive.com#theatre #postshowtalks #LGBTQ @jamesseabright.bsky.social
— Terri Paddock (@terripaddock.bsky.social) January 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A ‘Cold War Brokeback Mountain, #Firebird tells a sweeping true story of forbidden love in the Soviet military. How much would you risk?
Tonight’s 6pm perf is SOLD OUT. Check back for full Q&A 🎥.
🎟️ The world premiere runs at @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social til 9 Feb: www.firebirdlive.com. #theatre
— Terri Paddock (@terripaddock.bsky.social) January 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Thanks so much for staying for the @livefirebird Q&A, Steve. You were part of a really fantastic audience tonight at @KingsHeadThtr. https://t.co/UJvo4RH3oY
— Follow me @terripaddock.bsky.social (@TerriPaddock) January 19, 2025
Leave A Comment