The Swansong
Conceived, adapted and directed by Eve Nicol
Music and lyrics by Finn Anderson
Based on a radio drama by David Greig
A magical new musical about self destruction, second chances and the strangers who save us.
Soar with the irrepressible, life-affirming spirit of The Swansong.
This magical new musical sweeps you away with seductive, melancholy melodies inspired by late-night piano bars and last-chance saloons.
Lydia is a young woman on the brink, ready to drink herself to death in the park pond. But a chance encounter with a smooth-talking swan sends her on a wild final ride across starlit city skies and sweaty, pulsing basement bars.
Dodging knife fights in alleys and necking tequila shots, the Swan guides Lydia on a lash hurrah that turns into an unforgettable, transformative flight to the edge and back.
Brought to life by David Greig’s inimitable playful storytelling and Finn Anderson’s heart-breaking songs, this raucous, soul-nourishing story is about staring down your demons, dancing until you drop and living life with all your heart.
ABOUT THE SHOW
“Goosebumps throughout. Transcendent.”
DEVELOPMENT SO FAR
The Swansong is an 80 minute show featuring nine brand new songs performed by the seven-strong company of actors, musicians and actor-musicians.
They form a multi-rolling live band on piano, saxophone, electric guitar, bass and drums who are at the heart of the action, a spiritual support to Lydia as she takes on the wildest night of her life.
Listen to demos here or contact us for full access to the songs, script and 30 minute R&D presentation.
“From the first song, it feels like they are stretching out their hands for you to grab it and go!”
“I will hear it in my ears forever. I feel covered in that music, like a blanket that I don’t want to take off.”
CREATIVE TEAM
Eve Nicol
Director & co-creator
Eve creates music-inspired, critically acclaimed, award-winning theatre as a director and playwright.
Her debut play, One Life Stand (2018), toured nationally and garnered a "boundary-breaking buzz" (The Stage), amplified by original songs from Honeyblood. Eve has adapted If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian for the stage with BBC Arts & Avalon and Svengali (2022), which earned her a spot in the competitive BBC Writersroom Voices programme.
As a director, Eve has worked with acclaimed writers including Douglas Maxwell and Hannah Lavery, with productions at the Traverse, Tron, and National Theatre of Scotland. She is driven to forge deep, lasting connections with audiences, creating stories powered by music, style, and soul.
Finn Anderson
songwriter & co-creator
Bridging the worlds of music and theatre, Finn is one of Scotland’s most enchanting storytellers. Composer of acclaimed musicals Islander and A Mother’s Song, he is blazing an international trail for ambitious and thought-provoking Scottish music theatre. And as a singer-songwriter Finn brings together folk, pop and theatrical influences, drawing on his passion for Scotland’s natural wonder and collaborating with some of the country’s most exciting cross-genre musicians to weave distinctive and beautifully-crafted songs that go straight for the heart.
Finn has released two solo albums, co-created four award-nominated musicals, and collaborated on theatre and dance projects throughout the UK and internationally. He is currently an Associate Artist at The Lowry in Salford and on attachment at the National Theatre in London.
David Greig is a writer and theatre director, born in Edinburgh in 1969. His plays, adaptations, and musicals have been widely performed in the UK and internationally. Notable works include Europe, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Midsummer [a play with songs], Dunsinane, and The Events. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture, who poroduced collaborative, experimental work. In 2016, he became the Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre. In 2023, he published his first novel, Columba’s Bones.
David Greig
ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Let’s work together
We’re currently looking for partners and producers who want to explore joining The Swansong team.
Please drop Eve a line on eve.c.nicol@gmail.com
Photo: Musicals Commissioning Hub at The Studio, copyright Andrew Perry.