Scene from Birdy

In the repertoire

Birdy

William Wharton · directed by Gyulay Eszter

  • Gyulay EszterDirector
  • 20 May 2025Premiere
  • 100 minutesRunning time

It is the story of a special friendship. Of the bars that imprison us, that we inherit, that we build for ourselves, that we hide behind for protection, and that leave marks forever. And of freedom, as well. Of childhood, dreams, the endless sky, and the longing to fly. At the heart of this stage adaptation, inspired by William Wharton’s novel, lies the friendship and coming of age of two boys who, at a first glance, have nothing in common. Birdy’s desire to fly and fascination with birds lock him inside the cage of his own mind—a sensitive boy unable to cope with the cruelty of the everyday world. Al, on the other hand, tries to escape the cage of poverty, violence, and a fate he inherited, only to become trapped in his own mind by the horrors he lived through during the war.

Will the two boys, through their shared past, friendship, and the rediscovery of one another, find their way back to themselves and, at last, become free?

Cast

Creative team

Director
Gyulay Eszter
Music consultant
Kiss Attila
Set design
Albert Alpár
Costume design
Pirityi Emese
Dramaturgy
Gyulay Eszter
Puppet
Raffai Péter
Light Design
Gidó Zoltán
Stage manager
Makkai Zoltán

Gallery

Birdy on stage