So begins the remarkable one-woman play The Art of Swimming, written by Lynda Radley. Philadelphia’s Tiny Dynamite will present the American premiere of Radley’s imaginative work, part of their trademark A Play, A Pie, and A Pint series, from December 6-17, 2017 at Headhouse Cafe (122 Lombard Street, Philadelphia). For $20, audience members get a ticket to the show, a piece of pizza “pie,” and a pint of beer or soda.

In The Art of Swimming, a single actor takes us on an imaginative adventure to rediscover the story of Mercedes Gleitze, one of the great athlete-celebrities of her time. In 1927, after 26-year-old Gleitze successfully swims the twenty-mile crossing of the frigid English Channel, an even greater challenge emerges. Detractors—skeptical of women’s athleticism—claim her achievement is a hoax, setting Gleitze on a course that would forever change both her life and the perceptions of women in sports. But then…she is largely forgotten, until a young writer’s discovery of her picture, tucked in an old book, brings her story back to life. Told with inventive props, enchanting surprises, and accompanied by live music, The Art of Swimming will inspire anyone who has ever tested the motto, “Nothing great is easy.”
The Tiny Dynamite production features Lee Minora, fresh from her triumphant Edinburgh Fringe production of Cheeks, as Mercedes, with actor and composer Daniel Ison performing live music during every performance. The staging will be directed by Tiny Dynamite’s Producing Artistic Director KC MacMillan.

The Art of Swimming kicks off the seventh season of A Play, A Pie, and a Pint (PPP), the United States version of A Play, A Pie and A Pint – ÒRAN MÓR® that originated in 2004 at the ÒRAN MÓR Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, under the artistic directorship of Mr David Maclennan, in an effort to bring new audiences to the theatre and to create a supportive community for writers and artists. The basic premise of the project is that one-act plays are served up alongside a “pie” and a “pint” for a low-cost ticket at a non-traditional time of day. Òran Mór’s groundbreaking lunchtime theatre program now commissions and produces 38 new plays a year, and productions have toured nationally and internationally.
New this season, PPP will be presented at Headhouse Cafe, where all seating is cabaret style. Tiny Dynamite has also added the option of reserved seating: if guests book a full table of 4 or 6, the company will reserve it for you and include fun PPP swag. There are also new dessert shows on Saturday nights starting at 9:30PM.

The Art of Swimming will run December 6 through December 17, 2017, Wednesdays through Sundays at 6:30PM, with additional Saturday shows at 9:30PM. $20 includes admission to the performance, a piece of pie, and a pint of beer. For reserved groups of 4 or 6, admission will also include special Tiny Dynamite/PPP swag. Tickets can be booked by visiting http://artofswimming.brownpapertickets.com, or tinydynamite.org.

SERVICE DETAILS

Tiny Dynamite presents The Art of Swimming
Part of A Play, A Pie, and a Pint
December 6-December 17, 2017
Wednesday through Sunday at 6:30PM
Saturday at 6:30PM and 9:30PM
$20
Headhouse Cafe
122 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.tinydynamite.com