Details

Swive - (archaic, transitive) To copulate with (a woman). (archaic, transitive, dialectal ) To cut a crop in a sweeping or rambling manner, hence to reap; cut for harvest. Sex as power in the reign of Elizabeth I. Elizabeth was a political mastermind and monarchic force who reigned supreme for 45 years, and yet she still felt that her power ultimately resided in her beauty. Swive interrogates the power of aesthetics in gaining and maintaining control in a patriarchy. The power of kings is never predicated on their appearance. In Swive, Hickson shines candlelight on the savage pressure that women are under to sell themselves on their least interesting quality. If beauty is the key to survival, how do you hold on to what time will take away?

Cast/Performers

Nina Cassells, Abigail Cruttenden, Michael Gould, Colin Tierney

Creatives/Company

Author: Ella Hickson
Producer: Shakespeare's Globe
Director(s): Natalie Abrahami, Anthony Lau (assistant), Anna Morrissey (movement director), Sian Williams (associate movement director)
Costume: Sian Harris
Music: Angus MacRae
Other(s): Prema Mehta (candle consultant), Emma Woodvine (voice)
Design: Ben Stones