Directing the debut performances of The Aviary has been an absolute joy, and I couldn’t be prouder of the extraordinary team who has brought this bold, beautiful play to life.
When Jamie first handed us this script, we knew we were holding something special and wonderfully demanding. Jamie has crafted a world that is as sharp as it is enchanting. It is a place populated by bird-people trapped in their “bedroom-cages”, desperately singing for validation in their personal “bluelight spotlights”. It is a biting, laugh-out-loud satire of our digital age, but at its heart lies a quiet, aching human tragedy.
Inhabiting the Parapara Tree
Staging a play with such high-velocity and rhythmic prose required our cast to pour heart, humour, and immense physical courage into every single second on stage. To bring this stylised world to life, the ensemble had to operate as a single entity - embodying a community caught in the sticky, beautiful leaves of the “parapara tree”. They had to navigate the delicate balance between fast-paced comedy and the devastating vulnerability of characters who have “filled their bones with the things they can’t say”.
Behind the scenes, our phenomenal tech and design team has woven it all together with imagination and precision. They turned the very theatre into a cage, perfectly capturing the voyeuristic, “thumb-swipe” energy of the script.
From Frimley to the National Stage
The competitive journey of this production has surpassed our wildest dreams. Winning Best New Comedy at Maidenhead Drama Festival was a great start. But then sweeping the board at the Henley Drama Festival was thrilling. And finally coming second at Welwyn Drama Festival, widely regarded as one of the fiercest competitions on the drama festival circuit, was a wonderful affirmation of everyone’s hard work. Across the festivals we’ve taken home trophies for Best Director, Best Actress (for Megan), Best New Play and Best Stage Presentation alongside nominations for Best Actor (Liam), and Best Actress (Becky), proved that our boundary-pushing, experimental piece of theatre had truly found its wings.
Now, we face our biggest adventure yet. Out of more than 50 qualifying groups and award-winning productions put forward across the country this season, The Aviary has been officially selected for the National Drama Festival. We head to the national stage with excitement, gratitude, and a real sense of awe at how boldly we’ve taken flight from the branches of the parapara tree.
Our Homecoming
But before we travel to the finals, we wanted to bring this story back to where it belongs.
Frimley will always be the home and heart of Brightlight Theatre. This is the community that has supported our wildest creative risks, cheered us on through every rehearsal, and watched us grow. We are both proud and deeply honoured to be able to present this production of The Aviary here for you tonight.
Thank you for sitting in the dark with us, swiping aside the curtains, and letting us perform our song for you. Enjoy the show.
