Dive into Jonathan Harvey's Swan Song at The Dukes

Following its critically acclaimed sell-out premiere at Liverpool Theatre Festival in September, Jonathan Harvey’s bittersweet comedy Swan Song travels to The Dukes in Lancaster this November as part of a short tour.

This revised version of Harvey’s play stars TV and stage actor Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, Cilla: The Musical), is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw (Coronation Street, Our Girl) and is produced by Bill Elms, Liverpool Theatre Festival’s Artistic Director.

Set in Liverpool in 1997, the show follows Dave Titswell, a gay, middle-aged English teacher. 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. Everyone knows someone like Dave – or could even be a Dave themselves.

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. Beautiful Thing and Coronation Street writer Harvey adapted the play specially for Liverpool Theatre Festival for Andrew Lancel to play the solo role of Dave Titswell.

Producer and the artistic director 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.

“It is such a lovely piece that I approached Andrew and the team with the idea to 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.”

There will be two opportunities to see Swan Song at The Dukes, when it plays a matinee and evening performance to socially distanced audiences on November 25.

The production will take place in Moor Space, The Dukes’ second site found just up the road from their main building on Moor Lane. It forms part of a season of dynamic theatre, including the return of Red Ladder Theatre Company (Glory) with My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored and a collaboration with Lancaster Arts to co-present My Jersualem and The Class Project.

Advanced booking is required as part of The Dukes’ safety measures, all of which can be found on their website.

Tickets for Swan Song are priced at £13 and are on sale through www.dukeslancaster.org or by phoning The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598 500.