THE SWALLOW By Guillem Clua
THE SWALLOW
By Guillem Clua
English Translation by Tim Gutteridge
Directed by Laine Rogers
September 11–27, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM | Sundays at 3:00 PM
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
About the Play
Open Space Arts presents THE SWALLOW, an intimate and deeply moving two-character drama by internationally produced Catalan playwright Guillem Clua, author of SMILEY, which Open Space Arts presented in an extended successful run in June and July 2026.
Set during a private singing lesson, THE SWALLOW begins with a choral director and a new student working together on a song. But as the lesson unfolds, what seems at first to be a simple musical exchange becomes something more personal, more complicated, and more revealing.
With humor, tension, and emotional precision, the play explores grief, memory, family, faith, identity, and the stories people tell in order to survive. Music becomes both a refuge and a doorway, allowing two strangers to move toward truths that have been difficult to face.
THE SWALLOW is a powerful theatrical encounter about loss, compassion, and the possibility of connection when people are willing to listen.
Performance Schedule
THE SWALLOW runs September 11–27, 2026, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.
A possible extension would run October 2–18, 2026, with the same performance schedule: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.
About the Author
Guillem Clua is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director from Barcelona whose work has been produced internationally and translated into numerous languages. Known for combining strong storytelling with humor, suspense, and emotional depth, he is considered one of the most innovative and versatile voices in contemporary Spanish and Catalan theater.
His plays include THE SWALLOW, SMILEY, JUSTÍCIA, SKIN IN FLAMES, MARBURG, INVASION, KILLER, and TASTE OF ASHES. His writing frequently explores identity, family, politics, love, and the ways public events shape private lives.
In 2020, Clua received Spain’s prestigious National Prize for Dramatic Literature for JUSTÍCIA. THE SWALLOW has received productions around the world, while SMILEY became an international stage success before being adapted into an eight-episode Netflix series. Clua served as the series’ creator and showrunner.
Clua’s work has been praised for making complex social and political subjects immediate, accessible, and deeply human. Open Space Arts previously presented his romantic comedy SMILEY in a successful extended run during the summer of 2026.
About the Director
Laine Rogers is a Chicago-based theatre artist whose work includes directing, assistant directing, stage management, dramaturgy, design, marketing, and production. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and her credits include work with MadKap Productions, Piven Theatre, Raven Theatre, Concert Opera of Greater Chicago, PrideArts Center, Actors Training Center, Muskegon Civic Theatre, and DePaul University. She has worked on productions including A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, BOY GETS GIRL, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, PRIVATE LIVES, TOP GIRLS, LOVE AND INFORMATION, and L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI.
OSA Announces Partnership with Instituto Cervant
Open Space Arts is delighted to announce a new partnership with Instituto Cervantes Chicago, part of a worldwide nonprofit organization created by the Spanish government to promote the language, culture, and creativity of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
This partnership reflects Open Space Arts’ growing commitment to international theater and film, and to building meaningful connections with cultural organizations throughout Chicago.
We are especially pleased to begin this collaboration during our production of Guillem Clua’s SMILEY, a romantic comedy from Barcelona, and as we look ahead to presenting Clua’s THE SWALLOW in our upcoming season.
Through this partnership, Open Space Arts hopes to welcome new audiences, expand conversations across cultures, and continue sharing stories that build understanding, connection, and community.
Learn more about Instituto Cervantes Chicago:
https://chicago.cervantes.es
