Sebastian Faulks' epic story of love and war, Birdsong, was in the top 20 of the country's favourite books in the BBC's 2003 Big Read survey.
It weaves together the experiences of young Englishman Stephen Wraysford in pre-First World War France – where he embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with his host's wife, Isabelle Azaire – and the trauma of leading his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground.
Faced with unprecedented horror, the war-hardened Stephen clings to the shrinking memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.
The Original Theatre Company production has a cast of 12 led by newcomer Jonathan Smith as Stephen, with Sarah Jayne Dunn (Hollyoaks) as Isabelle alongside Arthur Bostrom ('Allo 'Allo!).
Charlie G Hawkins – who played Darren Miller in EastEnders – plays Private Tipper, a 15-year-old who finds himself in the trenches of the Western Front in France. He says all credit should be given to Rachel Wagstaff for adapting the 500-page novel for the stage.
"It's a well-known novel and a well-loved novel. People get very protective over it. How do you get across everything in the novel, without missing out the poignant moments?
"You have to get it right because people love the book."
Charlie is well aware that – at 22 – he's the age (and even older) of soldiers fighting in the First World War.
"We had a military adviser with us the whole time we were in rehearsal," he says.
"He was serving in Afghanistan, but he showed us original letters from the First World War, comparing them to letters from today's war. There was no difference at all. It was still about young men not wanting their family to worry and not wanting to let them down. There's a real feeling that they had to stay strong for their loved ones.
"It was a really intensive rehearsal process. You have to try to be as spot-on as you can. The thing I try to remember is what an emotional rollercoaster it was.
"The trenches are not a place for any man, any adult, and certainly not any young man.
"A 15-year-old shouldn't have been there. This is a big issue, and the themes the play deals with are still current. Some of the audience members will have relatives who are serving."
Charlie went to the famous Anna Scher theatre group in Islington, close to his north London home.
"It was literally just up the road from me. I went to an after-school drama club with a lot of other kids.
"I didn't really go for the drama; I was really hyper as a kid, so it would give my mum some peace to get me out of the house for a couple of hours.
"I started going twice a week. I got my first job when I was nine and joined EastEnders when I was 13.
"I didn't go to drama school, it wasn't really for me. I learnt on the job really. Eight years on EastEnders was an amazing way to learn. They were wonderful there and really looked after me.
"It's the same on Birdsong. The cast have really taken me under their wing. I'm like a sponge – I'm just soaking it all up.
"It's the first time I've ever done theatre and it's been amazing. I've loved it and we're still only half-way through our seven-month tour. It's been everything I wanted it to be and more."
Birdsong is at Hall for Cornwall, Truro, from Tuesday until Saturday, May 11.
