Drama Queen Studios brings its dark, physical comedy to The Playground Theatre on 12 and 15 November 2026.
A backstage breakup between tango partners spirals into chaos when Roxana ends her relationship with Mateo five minutes before their performance. Their argument erupts onto the stage, where Gianpiero, an eccentric “artistic genius” of a director—and alleged descendant of Julius Caesar—decides to transform the disaster into his greatest masterpiece.
He casts Mateo as a werewolf and Roxana as a swan, manipulating their real conflict in front of a live audience. What follows is a gloriously unhinged collision of Argentine tango, carefully crafted conspiracies and theatrical madness, led by a director who bows while his actors call an ambulance. It is a dark, physical and absurd comedy in which even the audience cannot tell what is scripted anymore.
Beneath the farce, the play explores artistic ego, exploitation and the line between pain and entertainment. Gianpiero sees crisis not as something to resolve, but as raw material for art. As Roxana and Mateo struggle for control, the production asks who owns a performance—and how far a director may go in pursuit of brilliance. Its humour remains accessible, but the characters’ desperation gives the escalating absurdity a darker edge.
The Swan, the Werewolf and Gianpiero was written by Agata Nielsen, a Polish-British actress, writer, producer and tango dancer. After years in London’s tango scene, Nielsen drew on the intensity and drama surrounding the dance to create a story in which a couple’s private argument becomes impossible to hide. The characters are fictional, although regular milonga-goers may recognise the emotions behind their predicament.
The production began with a sold-out premiere at COLAB Theatre in July 2026, followed by performances at the Etcetera Theatre during Camden Fringe in August. It now joins the programme of Voilà! Theatre Festival, which celebrates international, multilingual and boundary-crossing theatre across London. Its performances at The Playground Theatre give audiences another chance to experience the show as it continues to evolve with its current cast.
Nielsen plays Roxana, alongside Erwin Janke as Mateo, Mateusz Mirek as Gianpiero and Maddy Miron as the Maid. The creative team includes consulting director Krystian Godlewski, stage tango consultant David Chartoriski and stage combat consultant Charlotte Price. Together, they blend tango, physical theatre, live singing and comedy in a story that becomes more chaotic with every attempt to rescue the performance.
For audiences unfamiliar with tango, the dilemma is immediately recognisable: the curtain is going up, the performers are falling apart, and their director is having the time of his life. Tango dancers may find an additional pleasure in recognising how quickly passion, pride and an awkward encounter can turn a dance into something spectacularly theatrical.
The Swan, the Werewolf and Gianpiero runs for one hour and plays at The Playground Theatre on 12 and 15 November 2026 as part of Voilà! Theatre Festival.
Tickets and performance details: here
About the production: here
