Hybrid staged reading and live theatrical mood-board of Stef Smith's play about heartbreak, identity and the connections that help us survive.
Stef Smith's play Swallow comes to The MAC on Saturday 17 October, part of the Belfast International Arts Festival. It's a drama about heartbreak, identity and the connections that help us survive, and it's being presented by director Emma Copland as a hybrid of staged reading and live theatrical mood-board. That's a fair way of saying it's not a fully fleshed-out production yet; it's an exclusive first look at Copland's developing vision for a future full-scale staging, so you're seeing the work as it's still coming together.
Smith is an Olivier Award-winning writer, and Swallow has already picked up some strong reviews. The Guardian called it 'a bloody great bruise of a play' with 'shard-like lyricism', while The Herald, The Skinny and The List praised its lyricism, wit and empathy. It's described as powerful, moving and darkly funny, and it sits in that territory where the writing does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Behind the scenes, Copland is directing and producing alongside Gina Donnelly, with Natalie Murphy on casting. The show is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The MAC. There's an age guidance of 14+, as it contains strong language, sexual descriptions and depictions of smoking and self-harm, and strobe lighting is used throughout.
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It runs at 2:30pm in The Studio at The MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, and lasts 75 minutes. Tickets are £11.50 including the ticket fee, or £10.00 standard.
