Scottish playwright Stef Smith isn't yet 30, but her plays show a power beyond her years. Philadelphia's Inis Nua Theatre Company, which focuses specifically on presenting contemporary work from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, is a perfect fit for her unique voice. 

Here, we speak with Smith and director Claire Moyer about Inis Nua's production of Swallow. Smith's tale about a trio of lonely adults all in the midst of life-changing events finds a kind of universality in alienation from the modern world. Smith has received an Olivier Award for her play RoadKill and is an associate artist at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. This is the third play Moyer has directed for Inis Nua. Together they discuss the play's symbolism, getting into the heads of these characters, and the reactions from audiences around the world. 

To read Mark Cofta's review of Swallow, click here.