In June 1940, Churchill hailed the “miracle of Dunkirk,” when all 350,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force were evacuated to safety. Read more …
But for the men of 51st Highland Division, there was no miracle. Sacrificed in a secret political deal, Churchill ordered them to stay and fight to the last bullet.
Against overwhelming odds, 9,000 Scotsmen surrendered at St-Valery-en-Caux, and were marched to POW camps in Poland.
All of them were betrayed.
Some of them escaped.
One of them fell in love.
The Beaches Of St Valery is his story.
What’s striking about the play and the production is its resolute refusal to give this remarkable a story a simple happy ending; or to minimise the utter shock and trauma etched into the faces of the survivors of such a conflict, even if they find a peaceful haven in the end.
The Beaches of St Valerey nevertheless remains a touching story of love and courage in truly horrifying circumstances.
A Play, a Pie and a Pint, Glasgow from Monday March 6, 2017, until Saturday March 11, 2017. More info: http://playpiepint.com
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