Swan Song

Know Promises Theatre Collective brings a physical theatre adaptation of Chekhov’s Swan Song to The Nest in Sligo, with a performance confirmed for Wednesday 26 August 2026 and at least one further date during the run. The one-act piece follows Svetlovidoff, an ageing actor left alone in an empty theatre after a performance, who drifts between fragments of Shakespeare and memories of his career as the silence closes in around him. It is a short, intense two-hander built around movement and stripped-back staging rather than a conventional set.

What to expect

The production leans on expressive movement and dark humour to carry Chekhov’s short monologue, with the actor accompanied only by the theatre’s prompter as he slips between remembered lines and real regret. Expect an intimate staging, stripped of scenery, that puts the performers’ physicality and timing at the centre of the show rather than spectacle. The piece explores identity, ageing and loneliness through a character who has spent his life performing other people’s words and finds himself, at the end, alone with his own. The show is suitable for all ages and runs at an intimate venue, so early booking is worthwhile given the likely small capacity.

Getting there

The Nest is on Custom House Quay in Sligo town, close to the river and within walking distance of the town centre. Paid parking is available nearby for visitors arriving by car.

While you’re in Sligo

The venue is a short walk from the rest of Sligo town’s restaurants and bars, making it easy to build an evening around the show. There is more to explore across Co. Sligo for a longer visit.

Good to know

• Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026, 8pm, with at least one further performance during the run
• Venue: The Nest, Custom House Quay, Sligo
• Company: Know Promises Theatre Collective
• Booking: through Eventbrite; parking nearby is paid
• Suitable for all ages