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A very special talent, who helped, and still helps, to bring Panto success to so many Societies nationwide, over the years. Many were privileged to have the opportunity to meet David at the National Conference in Norwich.

His unique style will live on in all of his scripts, writes Tony Swan.
David Swan's public writing was mainly for children. His re-interpretation of the pantomimes
Aladdin (1988), Ah Baba (1988), Pinocchio (1989), Cinderella (1992), and Beauty and the Beast (1993), while adhering to traditional form, are witty and idiosyncratic moral fables with strong, non-wishy-washy heroines, and have been performed all over the world. His Frankenstein: The Panto (1987) the most idiosyncratic of all was the most widely performed pantomime in the
country for a number of years.

He also wrote two promenade plays. The Time Garden and Excalibur, for the Brunton Theatre
Company and Theatre Alba.
Additionally, he produced some outstanding work for BBC Radio Scotland: the part serial 'Beyond the Green Wall' (included in the Caledonians and Romans Season) and 'A Hallowe' en Tale', which won the Sony Award for Best Children's Programme in 1991.
David was also an actor, appearing in several Edinburgh People's Theatre productions (once as 'The Beast' in his own pantomime) and in two Fringe plays, A Scottish Wedding (but playing a loud,
uncouth Englishman) in 1982 and Pinter's 'The Dumb Waiter (ditto) in 1994.

David was born near Huntingdon, but spent most of his childhood in Blyth, Northumberland. He worked for a year in Ghana before taking a BA in English Literature at Lancaster University, then spent several unlikely years working as a customs officer in Newcastle before moving to Edinburgh, where he was able to give up conventional employment and earn a living from his primary interests: writing and the theatre.
Apart from a year or so working in Holland (he spoke fluent Dutch), he had remained here ever since - Edinburgh and Amsterdam were his spiritual homes.

David was a private person with many close friends. He had the ability to charm and entertain
outside the pop-up world of his imagination, and he was well-loved by adults (privately, his humour was Certificate 18), not to mention dogs, whom he regarded as honorary humans.
He was a very funny and intelligent man, endlessly creative, although often inhibited by
unnecessary self-doubt and finally, sadly, by illness. A major event in David's later years, after the tragic loss of several friends, from which he obtained a surprising strength, was his encounter with Ragini Elizabeth Michaels, the American psychotherapist. Their meeting marked the start of a profound friendship, and of a spiritual development in David's life.

He gave up writing, apart from for himself and friends, but his outpourings from those last few years are more brilliant and profoundly funny than ever. David was a greatly loved person, whose legacy is laughter and love - these are the greatest gifts he could have left us, and the spirit with which we'll always remember him.

Performed works

Theatre:-

Frankie MacStein: Brunton Theatre pantomime

Excalibur: Theatre Alba, promenade play

Dribble or Dare? Catch Theatre, community drama

Ali MacBaba and the Toom of Doom Brunton Theatre, pantomime

The Time Garden Theatre Alba, prmoenade play

Pinocchio Brunton Theatre, panto in Association with Childline

Slaves of the Eagle Theatre Alba, promenade play

Cinderella Brunton Theatre

Aladdin Brunton Theatre

Broadcasts:

The Three Honours, historical Drama

First Day, childhood experiences a dramatic monologue

Beyond the Green Wall, historical drama five part drama serial

Scaredy Cat ~ A Hallow'en Tale, narrative poem (Sony award winner 1991)

Our Gang, childhood experiences, five part drama serial

Broken Kippers, childhood experiences a dramatic monologue

Just My Luck, childhood experiences a dramatic monologue

Askers Never Get, childhood experiences a dramatic monologue

Published:

Frankenstein the Panto

The Sleeping Beauty

Aladdin

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Pinocchio

Cinderella

Beauty and the Beast

Others:

The Wizard of Oz, Mirage Puppet Theatre

The Pied Piper a play for schools