• At CPT we are committed to ensuring the best possible experience for all artists, audience members and other visitors to our space. We welcome customers and artists with disabilities and are pleased to assist you in your visit. 

    If you have any questions or enquiries, please do get in touch by phone at 020 7419 4841 or email at foh@cptheatre.co.uk.

  • Support Us
    access
  • View Cart Icon
  • Basket

    Paper Swans

    Tue 8 Mar at 9pm
    Tickets £8
    ARCHIVE
    Paper Swans is a one act absurdist play drawing on the playwright's personal experience as a woman from a post soviet country (Lithuania) exploring the trauma of oppression and the price of freedom through visual symbolism.
    Content Notice
    Running Time 60 minutes
    Content Notice
    Content NoticeReferences to violence, abuse, images of blood
    Health Notice
    Health NoticeFlashing lights

    Paper Swans is a one act play set in a closed park at night.

    A security guard on his patrol finds a young woman in a ballet dress sitting on the bench making paper swans. He tries to question her and find out what exactly she is doing and why. That locks them in a continuous never ending loop of having to encounter each other again and again and find out the meaning behind those paper swans. However, each time they meet, there is a slight change in the situation from the one before.

    It is a piece drawing on the traditions of absurdist theatre, visual symbolism and the playwright's personal experience as a woman from a post-Soviet country (Lithuania) coming to the UK. It explores the themes of oppression, freedom of speech, self-discovery and what it means to pursue dreams that one is not allowed to have.

    Supported using public funding through Arts Council England.

    Director: Simon Gleave

    Performers: Daniel Chrisostomou, Vyte Garriga

    Composer and Musician: Olivier Van Den Hende

    Set Designer: Valentina Turtur

    "“The play is an intriguing piece of storytelling. It feels bold and challenging.”"
    Royal Court
    "“That first act is pretty stunning. Really quite brilliant.”"
    Nick Coupe

    “British theatre would be completely stymied without tiny, under-resourced venues such as CPT, which are a critical part of the theatre ecology.”

    Lyn Gardner Stagedoor