TWO new one-act plays by Calderdale writer and director Alan Stockdill will be performed at the Fauconberg Arms, in Coxwold, near Easingwold, on July 17 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Staged by Alan's company, Talking Stock Productions, the 7.30pm comedy double bill comprises Godfrey's Last Stand and Give A Little Love, each play lasting an hour with an interval in between.

In Godfrey's Last Stand, Godfrey Shackleton (played by Keith Royston) has been a cricket umpire in the Yorkshire Dales league for half a century, but his big dream is to officiate an England-Australia match with sidekick Freddie Fitton (Stockdill) as his fellow umpire. His chance comes thanks to a £3.2m lottery win, but his daughter Donna (Sharon Kelly) is definitely not bowled over by the turn of events.

"This feel-good, gentle comedy will really make the audience think about family, forgiveness, responsibilities, hopes and dreams," says Alan.

In Give A Little Love, four old school friends meet up again after 30 years at a Bay City Rollers tribute concert but soon it becomes apparent that while you can take a girl from her teens, you can’t take the teenager from the girl.

"Old tunes and old flames die hard and live again in this tale of memories and music, where you can laugh, cry and Shang-a-Lang along with Liz, Karen, Debbie and Bev and get swept away by this touching and revealing drama," says Alan.

His cast will feature Helen Forsyth as Liz Barker, Catherine Pasek as Karen Williams, Pam Asling as Debbie Worsnop and Mariah Sykes as Bev Atkinson as Stockdill continues a play-writing career that began with his one-act piece No Hell at the Victoria Theatre, in Halifax, in early 2013. His next two plays, Deathwatch, and The Last Memory, were premiered at last July's Halifax Festival and went on to win acting and directing awards at the Glossop Partington Theatre One-Act Play Festival.

Talking Stock Productions, Alan’s latest artistic venture, pledges to provide "cutting-edge theatre with a loving heart and a loud voice". Since the theatre company was formed last year, it has raised almost £3,000 for charity, including the Alzheimer’s Society and NSPCC/Childline.

Roohi Lupton, fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, welcomesTalking Stock's fund-raising. "Talking Stock has been so passionate about supporting Macmillan as they know what a difference having the support of Macmillan makes at such a hard time," she says.

"Every day, a staggering 25 people in North and East Yorkshire hear the devastating news they have cancer and 12 people die from the illness. This will see the area’s population of people living with cancer nearly double between 2010 and 2030. This huge increase will in turn result in thousands more people feeling isolated and alone, every day, even after treatment ends.

“Macmillan and its supporters must take action now to make sure we’re there to solve these issues. I want to thank Talking Stock and the Fauconberg Arms for putting so much time, energy and commitment into making sure no one has to face cancer alone."

Tickets cost £10, no concessions, from the Fauconberg Arms on 01347 868214.