After its successful premiere at Liverpool Theatre Festival in September, Jonathan Harvey’s bittersweet comedy Swan Song will head out on a northern tour in July.

The one-man play, starring Andrew Lancel, is directed by BAFTA award-winning director Noreen Kershaw and produced by Bill Elms.

Swan Song will open at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre, playing from 1-3 July, before moving on to reopen the Little Theatre in Southport, Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, and City Varieties in Leeds. 

Swan Song was originally 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. 

Set in Liverpool, it is Christmas 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.

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

Andrew Lancel added: “I’m thrilled to be finally taking this wonderful play and role on the role and to returning to my beloved Unity where I am a proud patron. The other venues also have special memories and it’s humbling that Jonathan adopted this moving and funny piece for me. I think people really relate to Dave Titswell - it’s very relevant to today. To be reunited with Noreen and Bill too is a joy. It’s a gift of a role and job.”

For more information, please visit the touring venues’ websites.