TONIGHT Best New Writing @GMFringe Le Grand Return @Stickstock123 @HXPlayhouse http://greater-manchester-fringe.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/winner-of-gmfringe-best-new-writing.html until 21 Nov
We've had Le Grand Depart, now Talking Stock Productions presents Le Grand Return by Alan Stockdill - not a piece about cycling, but a gentle comedy about friendship, remembrance, war and peace - and following a successful February tour it's on again at The Swan Dobcross as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe on 7 and 8 July at 8pm.
It's 1994 and the 50th anniversary of D Day looms. Tommy, Alf and Edwin are incarcerated in Coldrick Nursing Home. In spite of his ever-worsening heart condition, D Day veteran Tommy is determined to break out and rejoin his old comrades on the Normandy beaches. But how will they all get out and what will happen along the way?
Halifax-based playwright, Alan was compelled to write this story back in the summer when he heard the heartwarming tale about Bernard Jordan, the veteran who really did abscond from his residential care home to return to the D Day beaches. The story has been back in the news earlier this year with the death of the 90-year-old determined adventurer.
The script is buzzing with humour and there is mention made of the century long rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire. There is a hint of Last of the Summer Wine comedy, but the deep poignancy suddenly kicks in once the three veterans return to northern France and the grave of Tommy's dead pal George, a Lancastrian from Oswaldtwistle.
"I'm thrilled to be bringing this play back to The Swan," says Alan. "It is a great space and we really feel at home there. We've got a brilliant and talented cast, who do this production proud. We promise a first class night of laughter - and maybe a few tears."
"Talking Stock always delivers the goods both confidently and powerfully," says Halifax Dean Clough Arts Director Vic Allen. "This record is testified to by its waxing band of followers. There really is something here worth looking at."
Catherine said: "Last week Le Grand Return played at the Brighouse 1940s festival where the play finished in a standing ovation for several minutes. It is that sort of play!
"A D-Day veteran was in the audience and was totally blown away, rising from his seat to congratulate the cast. Here is veteran Stanley Taylor in the picture congratulating Talking Stock's Stuart Davison who plays Edwin.
"Also, the play went to a drama festival in Woodbridge last month and came away with a hat trick of main awards - audience award, team acting and festival winner. It is now through to the final night of the British All Winners festival in Woking at the end of July."
Talking Stock Productions was formed in Spring 2013 by Halifax entrepreneur, actor, director and playwright, Alan Stockdill and writer/editor, actress and producer, Catherine Pasek. It's an independent theatre company which pledges to produce cutting edge theatre with a loving heart and a LOUD voice. Since their inception in 2013, they've toured several plays written by Alan and others, all which have had excellent reviews and audience feedback.
Along the way, they've also picked up awards at drama festivals for Best Play and Best Actors/Actresses. The company also has a commitment to raising funds for charities through their work - some of the profits from this performance will go to the Royal British Legion. In the past 18 months they have raised over £7,000 for local charities including Alzheimer's Society, Childline, NSPCC, Overgate Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Relief and Royal British Legion.
Alan's first play, No Hell had just been performed in January 2013 at Halifax's Victoria Theatre and the response prompted Alan to carry on writing to see where his new ideas would take him. The result was two tense and poignant one-act plays, Deathwatch and The Last Memory, which premiered in a production at the Viaduct Theatre as part of the 2013 Halifax Festival. The plays toured to other festivals and venues, winning awards and raising £1,200 for Alzheimer's and dementia charities.
Talking Stock Productions then toured Shelagh Stephenson's powerful play, 'Five Kinds of Silence' in February 2014, raising over £1500 for NSPCC/Childline. This was reprised in September 2014 by popular demand bringing in an extra £300.
Two new one-act plays, Godfrey's Last Stand and Give a Little Love hit the road in Summer 2014, touring Hebden Bridge, Buxton Festival Fringe, Halifax, Saddleworth, Coxwold, Glossop and Brighouse, raising £2,000 for Overgate Hospice and £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The plays won a raft of festival awards, including a nomination for Best Production in Buxton for Godfrey's Last Stand and Best Play for Give a Little Love at Partington Theatre, Glossop.
Alan's first full length play, Le Grand Return did an extensive tour of the north in February 2014 and was so popular with audiences that Talking Stock was invited to take it to summer festivals, the famous Brighouse 1940s weekend and the Greater Manchester Fringe.
It will now be performed at Halifax Playhouse until Saturday 21st November 2015 at 7:30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2:30pm. For more details click here: www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk/productions/Grand.html
For more details of Greater Manchester Fringe 1-31 July 2016 click here: www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk
TONIGHT Best New Writing @GMFringe Le Grand Return @Stickstock123 @HXPlayhouse http://greater-manchester-fringe.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/winner-of-gmfringe-best-new-writing.html until 21 Nov
We've had Le Grand Depart, now Talking Stock Productions presents Le Grand Return by Alan Stockdill - not a piece about cycling, but a gentle comedy about friendship, remembrance, war and peace - and following a successful February tour it's on again at The Swan Dobcross as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe on 7 and 8 July at 8pm.
It's 1994 and the 50th anniversary of D Day looms. Tommy, Alf and Edwin are incarcerated in Coldrick Nursing Home. In spite of his ever-worsening heart condition, D Day veteran Tommy is determined to break out and rejoin his old comrades on the Normandy beaches. But how will they all get out and what will happen along the way?
Halifax-based playwright, Alan was compelled to write this story back in the summer when he heard the heartwarming tale about Bernard Jordan, the veteran who really did abscond from his residential care home to return to the D Day beaches. The story has been back in the news earlier this year with the death of the 90-year-old determined adventurer.
The script is buzzing with humour and there is mention made of the century long rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire. There is a hint of Last of the Summer Wine comedy, but the deep poignancy suddenly kicks in once the three veterans return to northern France and the grave of Tommy's dead pal George, a Lancastrian from Oswaldtwistle.
"I'm thrilled to be bringing this play back to The Swan," says Alan. "It is a great space and we really feel at home there. We've got a brilliant and talented cast, who do this production proud. We promise a first class night of laughter - and maybe a few tears."
"Talking Stock always delivers the goods both confidently and powerfully," says Halifax Dean Clough Arts Director Vic Allen. "This record is testified to by its waxing band of followers. There really is something here worth looking at."
Catherine said: "Last week Le Grand Return played at the Brighouse 1940s festival where the play finished in a standing ovation for several minutes. It is that sort of play!
"A D-Day veteran was in the audience and was totally blown away, rising from his seat to congratulate the cast. Here is veteran Stanley Taylor in the picture congratulating Talking Stock's Stuart Davison who plays Edwin.
"Also, the play went to a drama festival in Woodbridge last month and came away with a hat trick of main awards - audience award, team acting and festival winner. It is now through to the final night of the British All Winners festival in Woking at the end of July."
Talking Stock Productions was formed in Spring 2013 by Halifax entrepreneur, actor, director and playwright, Alan Stockdill and writer/editor, actress and producer, Catherine Pasek. It's an independent theatre company which pledges to produce cutting edge theatre with a loving heart and a LOUD voice. Since their inception in 2013, they've toured several plays written by Alan and others, all which have had excellent reviews and audience feedback.
Along the way, they've also picked up awards at drama festivals for Best Play and Best Actors/Actresses. The company also has a commitment to raising funds for charities through their work - some of the profits from this performance will go to the Royal British Legion. In the past 18 months they have raised over £7,000 for local charities including Alzheimer's Society, Childline, NSPCC, Overgate Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Relief and Royal British Legion.
Alan's first play, No Hell had just been performed in January 2013 at Halifax's Victoria Theatre and the response prompted Alan to carry on writing to see where his new ideas would take him. The result was two tense and poignant one-act plays, Deathwatch and The Last Memory, which premiered in a production at the Viaduct Theatre as part of the 2013 Halifax Festival. The plays toured to other festivals and venues, winning awards and raising £1,200 for Alzheimer's and dementia charities.
Talking Stock Productions then toured Shelagh Stephenson's powerful play, 'Five Kinds of Silence' in February 2014, raising over £1500 for NSPCC/Childline. This was reprised in September 2014 by popular demand bringing in an extra £300.
Two new one-act plays, Godfrey's Last Stand and Give a Little Love hit the road in Summer 2014, touring Hebden Bridge, Buxton Festival Fringe, Halifax, Saddleworth, Coxwold, Glossop and Brighouse, raising £2,000 for Overgate Hospice and £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The plays won a raft of festival awards, including a nomination for Best Production in Buxton for Godfrey's Last Stand and Best Play for Give a Little Love at Partington Theatre, Glossop.
Alan's first full length play, Le Grand Return did an extensive tour of the north in February 2014 and was so popular with audiences that Talking Stock was invited to take it to summer festivals, the famous Brighouse 1940s weekend and the Greater Manchester Fringe.
It will now be performed at Halifax Playhouse until Saturday 21st November 2015 at 7:30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2:30pm. For more details click here: www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk/productions/Grand.html
For more details of Greater Manchester Fringe 1-31 July 2016 click here: www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk