Malthouse Theatre unveils thrilling adaptation of The Birds

A powerful new stage adaptation of The Birds is coming to Southbank this May, as Malthouse Theatre prepares to unveil its latest production.

Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s short story, this one-woman psychological thriller stars powerhouse performer Paula Arundell and runs from May 16 to June 7.

Adapted for the stage by Louise Fox and directed by Matthew Lutton, the production reimagines the suspenseful classic made famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s film.

Returning to directing after a decade as Malthouse’s artistic director, Mr Lutton brings a visceral, immersive vision to this tense, atmospheric story.

“The Birds is a thriller about a family who are living through an extraordinary crisis – the day birds, as an entire species, turn on humankind,” Mr Lutton said.

“Paula is one of the country’s most astonishing actors, and this will be the performance of a lifetime, and you’ll be in the theatre, wearing headphones, experiencing every whisper and every swoop intimately with her.”

Audience members will wear individual headsets throughout the performance, plunging them into a vivid soundscape created by J. David Franzke.

From the flurry of feathers to the terrifying silence before a strike, the audio design creates an intimate, pulse-racing encounter with the unknown.

Set in a remote coastal town under siege by nature itself, the production taps into themes of paranoia, fear, and survival.

With Ms Fox’s sharp script and Mr Lutton’s inventive staging, this “adrenaline-shot adaptation” offers a raw and contemporary take on Ms du Maurier’s gothic tale.

Taking centre stage is Paula Arundell, one of Australia’s most magnetic stage talents.

Best known for her Helpmann Award-nominated turn as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, her credits also include Three Furies, Antony and Cleopatra, and Henry V.

The Birds runs from Friday, May 16 to Saturday, June 7 at Malthouse Theatre. •