REVIEW: FIREBIRD by Phil Davies at Southwark Playhouse 9 July – 1 August 2026
‘a scorching, excoriating central performance by Mollie Milne as Tia’ ★★★★
Tia doesn’t have a lot going for her beyond a sort of rat-like survival instinct and the ability to blag chips by being annoying and whiny. She’s poor and skinny and doesn’t like her foster-mum or social services or the police, and has had sufficient experience of those institutions in her 14 years in Glasgow to be quite sure they don’t like her. It isn’t a recipe that bodes well when she tries to get justice after being trafficked and abused by a man who was initially nice to her. Initial niceness, followed by violence and abuse.
This isn’t an easy show to watch. Tia’s serial degradation is wrenching, her attempt to make anyone in authority believe her story is agonising, there are very few laughs. What there is, is powerful and eye-catching direction from Marlie Haco, a dynamic set design that makes Tia’s confinement physical and vivid while allowing the actors space to move, Phil Davies’ note-perfect dialogue, and a scorching, excoriating central performance by Mollie Milne as Tia.
A powerful script, an important story, and acting out of the very top drawer. FIREBIRD isn’t easy, but it is really good. Plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until August 1st.
Double Telling presents
FIREBIRD
By Phil Davies
Directed by Marlie Haco
9 Jul - 1 Aug 2026
BOX OFFICE
https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/firebird/
CAST
Mollie Milne as Tia
Taqi Nazeer as AJ
Kelise Gordon-Harrison as Katie
CREATIVES
Phil Davies-Writer
Marlie Haco-Director and Dramaturg
Tomás Palmer-Set Designer
Sarah Mercadé-Costume Designer
Ákos Lustyik-Composer and Sound Designer
Ben Jacobs-Lighting Designer
Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn-Casting Director
Annelie Powell-Casting Director
Joe Prentice-Production Manager
Heather Smith-Stage Manager
