Firebird

2 Apr

“You’ve got these twinkling eyes, all bright and dancey… They will love taking that from you.”

When two teenage girls meet at a local youth centre, an unexpected friendship begins to take shape. But as one of them is drawn into the orbit of an older man, their bond is tested in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Funny and tender, Phil Davies’ “unforgettable” drama (The Stage) exposes the devastating impact of grooming gangs with “rare eloquence” (Londonist), and asks what it takes to be believed.

Marlie Haco’s new production combines Davies’ scorching text with movement and an original score to shine a light on an ongoing national scandal.

This is the first revival of Firebird since it premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 2015, before transferring to Trafalgar Studios in 2016.

Performance Dates

9th July - 1st August 2026 - Southwark Playhouse - click here for tickets

Praise for the 2016 production, directed by Ed Hall

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - British Theatre
- “It is punchy and savage… shakes you to the core.”
★ ★ ★ ★ - What’s on Stage
- “Davies' writing brims with a fierce energy… absolutely eviscerating”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - The Reviews Hub
- “Firebird deserves the highest praise for tackling with profound integrity and compassion a subject that is all too often swept under the carpet.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Londonist
- “Davies perfectly captures the complexities of human relationships… the realness of the source material helps pull us into the story.”