THE SWING LEFT
written by Steven Dykes
from a devising process with Unlimited Theatre
premiered at The North Wall, Oxford in
July 07
touring (hopefully) to be announced.....
It’s a long time ago now, but some of us still remember…
A landslide victory in the general election. Promises of a bright, new future. Jobs and houses for all. Things can only get better……
London, 1946. Dancefloor. Swing. Lights fade up. Music builds. Three
couples jitterbug.
photos: Andy
Fleming
Imagine me. Roy. Coming back from somewhere and nowhere. Hoping to
meet you. The girl of my dreams.
Imagine me. Kay. Aroused with opportunity and alive with the freedom of girls in boy’s boots. Hoping that I meet you. The heroes of our times.
I'll Lindy Hop you round every dancehall in town and we'll live a bright new future full of hope built on Labour party promises.
"I thought we won, but the country looks shit. Like everything's falling apart."
Over the course of one long weekend in early 1946, The
Swing Left tells the story of six people finding their way in a radically
changed world. Set against the political backdrop of a massive landslide
victory for Labour in the general election and filled with the swing music
and dance of its time, The Swing Left paints a vivid picture
of England in the immediate aftermath of the 2nd World War.
We don’t remember the war. But we do remember what hope is.
We remember feeling like the country had finally been given back to us.
We remember believing that things can only get better.
We're enormously proud to have been commissioned by the North Wall to launch this brilliant new venue in Oxford that's been designed by Young Vic and Royal Court architect Steve Tompkins.
The North Wall is the brainchild of leading film composer George Fenton (Gandhi, Fight Club, The Wind That Shakes the Barley) and has the most excellent ambition of building a national network of young people through a shared passion for the arts.
Welcome to the show. We hope you can make it.
Directed by Steven
Dykes and Jon Spooner
Cast: Sarah Belcher, Clare Duffy, Lucy Ellinson, Gareth Kieran Jones,
Jon Spooner and Chris Thorpe.
Lighting design by Ric Mountjoy
Sound Design by Gareth
Fry
Associate Artist (design) Emma Williams
Stage Management: Jodi Brooke Woolhouse
A co-production with The North Wall
Additional support from Sheffield Theatres, West Yorkshire Playhouse
and Harrogate Theatre
Also funded by Arts Council England.