17th May 2024 ‘Le Grand Return’, by Calderdale Playwright Alan Stockdill, is a gentle comedy drama about love, remembrance, war and peace. Set in 1994 at the 50th anniversary of D Day. Tommy, Alf and Edwin are incarcerated in Coldrick Nursing Home.
In spite of his ever-worsening heart condition, plucky veteran, Tommy, is determined to break out and rejoin his old comrades on the French beaches and visit the grave of his best friend George who died at the scene. How he gets there and what happens along the way makes for a charming and compelling piece of theatre loved by all who see it.
The play premiered at the Viaduct Theatre, Dean Clough, Halifax back in February 2015 and went on to perform at various venues, including Bradford Cathedral, raising money for Royal British Legion and the Artspace. It beat off stiff competition at the Greater Manchester Fringe that year, coming away with the the Best New Writing award.
“‘Le Grand Return’ is a really beautifully written and touching play, funny, yet also so poignant,” said one of the judges. “It ticked all the boxes for us. Everyone who saw it raved about it.”
The play has toured several times with Talking Stock’s original cast – Keith Royston, Roy Byrom, Stuart Davison and Giselle Herbert – who will all be back in their roles for this latest tour. The play has now been published and performed by theatre groups all over the UK.
