Cervantes Theatre Presents THE SWALLOW, Exploring The Impact Of The Orlando Terrorist Attack

Wanting to work on his vocal technique before singing at the memorial service of his beloved mother, Ray (Ramón) enlists the help of strict singing teacher Emily (Amelia). During an explosive evening of confessions it becomes clear that they are united by more than just music, as both struggle to deal with the aftermath of a terrorist attack in their own ways.

Inspired by the attack in a gay nightclub in Orlando that saw the deaths of 50 people, The Swallow is a highly emotional work exploring how loss can simultaneously separate and unite people.

Directed by Paula Paz, Associate Director of The Cervantes Theatre, and starring David Luque and Jeryl Burgess in the English version and David Luque and Amparo Climent in the original Spanish version. The play also features music by Nico Casal, composer of the music for 2016 Oscar winner Stutterer and set design by the talented and multi-garlanded Alejandro Andújar. The play is translated by Tim Gutteridge.

'What makes us human? For Amelia, a deeply wounded mother, what makes us humans is the capacity to feel other's pain as your own. When an indiscriminate attack happens, we are all victims who have to deal with the same crossroads: hate or love. Our world depends on the direction we decide to take' - Guillem Clua.

Ticket prices: From £20 and £15 concessions

Guillem Clua is a playwright, screenwriter and theatre director who graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, spending a year at the London Guildhall University. The critics have described his work as multidisciplinary and eclectic. His work has been shown internationally, having been translated into English, German and French. He has received various awards such as the 2011 Butaca Award, the 2013 Time Out Award, and the 2017 Max Award. His most recent play in London was the 2015 production of Skin in Flames (La Piel en Llamas) at the Park Theatre

Amparo Climent studied performance, directing and playwrighting at both the "Official School of Filmography at Madrid" and the Valencian school 'El Micalet'. She is the scriptwriter and director of shorts and documentary films such as: Las lágrimas de África, Porteadoras and, cooproducer of 'Los sueños de Idomeni'. Furthermore, she is the author of many plays such as: La caja oscura, Hijas de la soledad, A Pony le pintaban los labios de rojo, Las hijas del mal, El último destello... She is part of the Board of Directors of the 'Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Spain' and has served on the Committee of Experts advising the Spanish Ministry of Culture on funding for cinematography.

Paula Paz is co-founder and Associate Director of the Cervantes Theatre and the Spanish Theatre Company. She is a theatre director and former professional ballet dancer (Angel Corella Ballet, Ballet Ireland and Maria Gimenez Ballet) and holds an MA with distinction in theatre directing from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She has directed The Swallow (Cervantes Theatre), Darwin's Tortoise (Cervantes Theatre), Knives in Hens (Karamel Club Theatre), Eigengrau (Mountview MA), History of a Staircase (Canada Water Cultural Space), Hay que deshacer la Casa (White Bear Theatre).

David Luque studied the Lecoq Techniquewith María del Mar Navarro and became a permanent member of the ensemble of the Teatro de la Abadía in 2000, where he studied with leading authorities such as Tapa Sudana, Juan Carlos Gené, Lenard Petit and Marcelo Magni. Most recently David Luque co-stared as Rodrigo Salazar in the film Teresa which premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. In theatre he was recently seen in Alex Rigolas's El Público by F.G. Lorca; Film includes: Goya's Ghost (Milos Forman), The Reckoning (Paul McGuigan), People in Places (Juan Cavestany), El club de los suicidas (R. Santiago), Goya en Burdeos (Carlos Saura), Sleeping Luck and One word from you (A.G. Sinde); Television includes: El Ministerio del Tiempo, Bandolera, Cuéntame, El síndrome de Ulises, SMS, 24H, Antivicio. In 2011 he co-founded with stage director Fefa Noia the company Los Lunes. Together, they have staged "Wild Wild Wilde" by J.R. Fernández, Cuerdas by Bárbara Colio, Ayuda by Maria Goos and País by Fefa Noia. He has recently played Angustias in the male version of This is not the house of Bernarda Alba.

Jeryl Burgess' theatre includes Fear and Misery (Union), The Robbers, Hamlet, Thebes (New Diorama/Greenwich), Humble Boy (National Tour), Contactless (Hen and Chickens), St George's Day (Park), What's Your Issue (Cockpit), Sleepers' Diner (Arts), Absolution (Theatre 503), Memory of Summer (Jermyn Street), The Laundry (Jack Studio), Lines (Rosemary Branch), The Winter's Tale (Rose, Bankside). Film includes Seven Lucky Gods (Jamil Dehlavi), A Nightmare on your Street (Stephen Hopkins). TV includes Premature (Liger Films).

The Cervantes Theatre opened in November 2016. It is the new home of the Spanish Theatre Company, a charity that aims to bring the best Spanish and Latin American theatre to London and British audiences, thereby promoting Spanish language dramatic arts. The Theatre was founded by the renowned Spanish director, producer, and actor, Jorge de Juan. His directing credits include The Public, The Grain Store, End of the Rainbow, Dracula, The 39 Steps and The Woman in Black. As an actor, he has appeared in more than 20 plays, 50 films and TV series. He received the Francisco Rabal Film Award for his starring role in El Mejor de los Tiempos (1990) and the Turia Theatre Award for his performance in La Mujer de Negro (1998). As a producer and writer, his film, Bala Perdida, starring David Carradine, received the Best Film award at the Mostra de Valencia Cinema Awards. Recently, Jorge has been collaborated as a dramaturg in M-Dao for the English National Ballet.

Spanish Theatre Company is the company behind the Cervantes Theatre and is a registered Charity no. 1163231 and is registered in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, no. 09212765

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