“Masterful”
Sydney Morning Herald
“Thrillingly vivid”
The Scoop
“Wicked jolt to the senses”
Stage Noise

The Birds

By Daphne du Maurier
Adapted by Louise Fox
Directed by Matthew Lutton

Archived

The
Birds

  • 16 May – 7 Jun 26 Upstairs Theatre
  • Approx. 80 minutes (No Interval)
Archived

The Birds

By Daphne du Maurier
Adapted by Louise Fox
Directed by Matthew Lutton

  • Venue Upstairs Theatre
  • Dates 16 May – 7 Jun 26
  • Duration Approx. 80 minutes (No Interval)
  • Content warning

    This production contains coarse language, graphic descriptions of violence, harm and death. Loud and sudden noises, flashing lights and smoke effects are also present.

    Should you wish to speak to a member of staff regarding running times, content warnings or any other show-related queries, our box office can be contacted on 02 9699 3444.

  • Produced by
  • Supported by
    • The Creative Development Fund

Paula Arundell goes wild in a new take on Daphne du Maurier’s classic

“How many millions of years of memory are stored in those brains? Behind the stabbing beaks. Behind the piercing eyes.”

The suspense is palpable, unsettling silence, taut soundscapes and the approaching end will have you ready to fight or fly

Drawn from the words of Daphne de Maurier, enter the suspenseful world of The Birds. Featuring Paula Arundell, this chilling one-woman show will have you questioning – how far would you go to save your loved ones?

The Birds will fill you with fear while challenging you to face the unseen threat.  

I saw this one-woman take on The Birds in Melbourne last year and loved its theatrical ambition, its bold invitation to put the other creatures we share the planet with into the frame of our stories, and above all the superb performance by Paula Arundell. It’s tense, thought provoking, and a virtuoso piece of storytelling from one of our great actors. – Eamon

The Birds was first produced and presented by Malthouse Theatre in 2025. The Birds was commissioned and developed by Malthouse Theatre.

“I want to go back. To be confronted, to huddle and fight and protect, along with Tessa again”.

The Scoop

“Fox turns the work into a taut, entertaining 80-minute thriller that shares DNA with popular post-apocalyptic series such as HBO’s The Last of Us”

Limelight

“Arundell’s extraordinary ability and our piqued imagination combine to establish a mood of disturbing disquietude and outright terror.”

Theatre Red
“If the mark of a good ghost story is making you look behind you, this one makes you look up. Long after you leave the Upstairs Theatre, you’ll catch yourself glancing at the sky, suddenly hyperaware of the silence — and that’s what makes The Birds a great one.” Faith in Theatres

PRICES

  • Full Price (Adult)~^ $78 – $98
  • Mates Rates (Adult)^ $73 – $88
  • Senior* $68 – $88
  • Concession† $58 – $78
  • 30-Down# $56 – $71
  • Previews $58 – $63
  • Student Saver $43 – $58

Save with Season Tickets!

With 4-play packages starting from $212 plus a range of ticket types and concessions, there is a package to suit everyone!

 

Join Us

~ Bookings of 10+ full price adult tickets receive a $10 discount per ticket.
^Prices are subject to change at no notice based on demand.
* Seniors prices are available with an eligible Australian Government-issued Seniors Card.
† Concession prices are available with a full-time student card, Centrelink Pensioner concession card, Veterans’ Affairs cards, and to members of Actors Equity (MEAA), and ArtsHub, and HotHouse Theatre Subscribers.
# 30-Down and Student Saver prices are available for Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, and Friday evening.

TEAM

  • Daphne du Maurier
     Author
  • Louise Fox
     Adaptor
  • Matthew Lutton
     Director

  • Cast

  • Paula Arundell
    image description

    Theatre: Belvoir; Sami In Paradise, Atlantis, Mr Burns, Mother Courage, Angels in America, Peter Pan, Gethsemane, Scorched, Snuggle Pot and Cuddlepie, Paul, Peribanez, The Three Penny Opera, Michael Cassel Group; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Sydney Theatre Company; Top Girls, The Bleeding Tree, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Disgraced, Suddenly Last Summer, Macbeth, Under Milk […]

    Read full bio

  • Creatives

  • Kat Chan
     Set and Costume Designer
  • Niklas Pajanti
     Lighting Designer
  • J. David Franzke
     Composer and Sound Designer
  • Gideon Cozens
     Sound Associate
  • Rosemary Osmond
     Stage Manager

Extras

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The Birds

Digital Program

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Interview with Paula Arundell

About the Show

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Paula Podcast Interview

STAGES with Peter Eyers

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Theatre Matters

Louise Fox Interview

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THE BIRDS

TRAILER

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INTERVIEW WITH MATT LUTTON

BIRD BOXES

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Hear what our audience thought about the show

AUDIENCE REVIEWS

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FIND OUT FROM THE TEAM

WHAT TO BRING IN A BIRD-POCALYPSE?

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FIND OUT FROM THE TEAM

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

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INCOMING

RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT

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WILLIAM YEATS POEM

THE SECOND COMING

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THE BIRDS

IT’S THEM.

Information
for schools

  • Book your performance

      * Required fields

    TERM Two

    See this play for:
    SOLO PERFORMANCE
    IMMERSIVE THEATRE
    ADAPTATION

    Recommended for Years 11 – 12

    Curriculum Links

    Drama
    Stage 6
    Preliminary
    • Elements of Production in Performance
      (Outcomes P2.6, P3.1, P3.2)
    HSC
    • Individual Project: Performance, Scriptwriting, Design
    ENGLISH extension 1
    • Elective 5: Intersecting Worlds (related text)

    Schools Performances

    All schools performances are followed by a Q&A session with the cast.

      Tickets are only $25 per student with one complimentary teacher ticket for every ten students booked.

      Evening and Matinee Performances

      School groups can book any general public performance. Book our Thursday 1pm matinees for the schools performance price of $25 per ticket, or an evening performance from $45 per student.

      What to expect

      Belvoir creates for a wide audience and our productions may contain mature content. Accurate information about productions including running times and content is available once rehearsals have begun.

      Contact Us

      For more information about our education programs, please get in touch.

      Head of Education Jane May
      +61 (2) 8396 6241

      EMAIL EDUCATION

      Book your performance

      Complete this form to request tickets for The Birds
      Want to book multiple productions? Head to our full Schools Booking request

        * Required fields

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