Following its critically acclaimed sell-out at Liverpool Theatre Festival and Northern tour, Swan Song, a revised comedy by acclaimed playwright Jonathan Harvey, is heading to London for one week only.
Swan Song, a one-man play starring acclaimed stage and screen star Andrew Lancel, directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms.
The play will open at London’s Turbine Theatre for seven performances from Monday 29 November to Saturday 4 December. The show also performs pre-London dates at The Coro in Ulverston on Friday 19 – Saturday 20 November, a perfect venue due to The Lakes playing an important part within the play.
Swan Song was first staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1997, before transferring to Hampstead Theatre with award-winning comedy actress Rebecca Front in the lead role. Jonathan Harvey adapted the 70-minute play specially for Andrew Lancel at Liverpool Theatre Festival to play the solo role of Dave Titswell.
Producer and the artistic director of Liverpool Theatre Festival, Bill Elms said: “Swan Song is a funny, clever and inspiring production which opened the inaugural Liverpool Theatre Festival. Andrew Lancel, Jonathan Harvey, and Noreen Kershaw are an incredible blend of creative talent, and the play went down a storm in Liverpool and on its Northern tour. People are excited for the return of live theatre – and we’re excited to give them that experience back after such a long time with a really special production.”
Swan Song is a bittersweet comedy written by Jonathan Harvey. Set in Liverpool, it is 1997, the world is changing and in the staff room, gay forty-something, English teacher Dave Titswell finds that not all change is welcome. He has a crush, but life, love, and work are never straight forward for Dave. Will a school trip to The Lakes change things for the better, or make things decidedly worse? Swan Song will make audiences laugh, but equally pull at the heartstrings.
Andrew Lancel commented: “I’m thrilled to be finally taking this wonderful play to London. We are a small team but this play just keeps growing and it’s a constant buzz to do. It’s funny, moving and strangely (and sadly) topical. I can’t wait to see London’s reaction to Dave Titswell.”
