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The extraordinary true story of composer Kay Swift and her ten-year love affair with George Gershwin.

Before Taylor Swift, there was Kay Swift – her distant relative, and another unique game-changing musician. Kay became the first woman to score a hit Broadway musical.
When Kay meets George, sparks fly. But Kay is happily married with children, and George is only truly faithful to his creative talent. A malicious psychoanalyst adds fuel to the fire. Kay chooses to forge her own future – in love and music – risking everything along the way.

Written by Andrew McCaldon and recorded live in front of an audience at the Alexandra Palace Theatre, London with Swift and Gershwin’s music performed by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Concert Orchestra with singer Lucy-Anne Daniels and pianist Ben Dawson. The conductor is Keith Lockhart.

Kay Swift ….. Lydia Leonard
George Gershwin ….. Jamie Parker
Jimmy Warburg ….. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd
Gregory Zilboorg ….. Joseph May
Ellen Swift ….. Tara Ward

Directed by Tracey Neale

Producers - Tracey Neale and Neil Varley

With special thanks to Katharine Weber, Aaron Gandy, and the Kay Swift Trust.

The Cast:
Lydia Leonard is a Tony-nominated actress whose most recent credits include A Very Royal Scandal with Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen, We Are Lady Parts for Channel 4, Funny Woman with Gemma Arterton, and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s The Mirror and the Light with Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance. Lydia is also known for playing the lead in Amazon’s Ten Percent, as well as opposite Suranne Jones in Series 2 of the HBO/³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ drama Gentleman Jack, and playing Cherie Blair in Series 6 of The Crown.

Jamie Parker is best known for his role as Harry Potter in the original cast for the West End play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, for which he received an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play and a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play. For his performance in Rodgers & Hart & Hammerstein for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3, he was shortlisted for a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Audio Award for Best Actor. He has made numerous other appearances in ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ audio dramas and as a reader for Book at Bedtime and Book of the Week.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is One of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow, and can be seen in the lead role of Brian Epstein in biopic Midas Man. He played the role of D.L Townes in The Queen’s Gambit, and Detective Whiteman in Bodies, both hit limited series on Netflix. On stage, Jacob has played leading roles at the RSC, in London’s West End, the Globe and most recently at the Hampstead Theatre.

Joseph May played Andy Button across 5 seasons of Episodes for Hatrick. He played Justin Trudeau in The Windsors and appears as regular Francois in the reboot of All Creatures Great and Small for Channel 5. Other TV appearances include Toast of Tinseltown, Dark Money, and the recurring role of Malone in Miss Scarlett and the Duke.

Tara Ward returns to Alexandra Palace with Gershwin & Miss Swift following her appearance as Lucy Anderson in the acclaimed Drama and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Concert Orchestra collaboration Benny & Hitch for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3. She can be seen as the troubled Diana in Sky TV’s Riviera and the Janitor’s Wife in Warner Bro’s Justice League. She played Mrs Marsh in ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4’s Little Women and has recorded more than 100 audiobooks.

The Writer:
Andrew McCaldon won the Richard Imison Award for his drama, Benny & Hitch, which he created for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3. For the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Andrew has also written the BAFTA-winning Ten Pieces films, shows for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Singers and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ orchestras, and a series of acclaimed Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, all combining music and drama. His other work includes: Abracadopera! (English National Opera / Sky Arts), I Am Trumpet (Southbank Centre, London) and Another Star to Steer By (Brighton Festival).

The Production Team:
Director, Tracey Neale
Producers, Neil Varley and Tracey Neale
OB Engineer, Chris Rouse
Technical Producer, Peter Ringrose
Production Co-Ordinators, Ben Hollands, Ruth Potter and Luke MacGregor

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