Firewing by David Pearson, Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London | until 23 May 2026 ⭐⭐ Review by William Russell
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
Firewing
by David Pearson
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London | until 23 May 2026
⭐⭐ Review by William Russell
“Flawed but hugely promising debut play.”
Tim, the irascible elderly wildlife photographer, is reading the riot act to Marys, a bolshie teenager, who has come to his decrepit woodland cottage hide to learn how to photograph birds in this first play by David Pearson, a graduate of the theatre's Inspire programme, which has been directed Alice Hamilton, an associate director at the theatre. The problem with awarding stars is that there are no common rules as to what they mean. Five, of course, means the show is wonderful, four that it is good. But less than that and you enter difficult territory. For me three means a play passes the time and is probably worth your money, but two is problematical. I am not saying do not go but go at your own risk and read what I have said rather than just clock a couple of asterisks and not bother. Firewing is well worth catching even if there is arguably a lot of work still to be done and Hampstead staging means Pearson gets a chance discover what that is. One's playgoing is always enhanced by having seen early works like this when the future plays come along. Given the limitations of the play Charlie Beck as Marcus and Gerard Horan as Tim deliver very good performances although the flashback scene meant to illuminate the encounter between Tim and Marcus by taking us to Tim's every bit as troubled youth is possibly a mistake. Marcus is there not to photograph birds but to steal Tim's expensive camera which he takes a long time getting round to trying to do. Read the programme interview with Pearson first. because it is something he and Hamilton inserted during the work putting the piece on stage. As for Firewing, it is a bird once photographed by Tim and on which his reputation rests as it is the only time the bird was seen here. The lessons he delivers about what a photograph should do are fascinating but the stills he projects to explain are almost impossible to make out which does not help, There is a handsome set for Tim's cabin and a nifty scene change for that flashback but just what that camera is pointing at is anybody's guess as it appears to be surrounded by impenetrable trees and the kerfuffle about the blocked lavatory is one of those things never really explained. So, to the verdict - an interesting debut with loads of promise which goes on about ten minutes too long. Do not take the two stars as a reason not to go.
Cast
Charlie Beck – Marcus
Gerard Horan – Tim
Creatives
Director – Alice Hamilton
Designer – Good Teeth
Lighting Designer – Jamie Platt
Sound Designer – Harry Blake
