The Last Return

Not all good things come to those who wait.

One final night. One last chance. Five people queue for a ticket to the hottest show in town. All they must do is simply wait in line. But what in life is ever simple?

Who will triumph, who will fail, and who will walk away with… The Last Return?

A new play by acclaimed playwright Sonya Kelly (Once Upon a Bridge, How to Keep an Alien), The Last Return is a thrilling comedy about conflict, peace and the pursuit of territory at any cost.

Sara Joyce (Once Upon a Bridge) directs a cast of Fiona Bell, Anna Healy, Bosco Hogan, Fionn Ó Loingsigh and Naima Swaleh.

Druid’s world premiere production of The Last Return will open at Galway International Arts Festival this summer before touring to Traverse Theatre as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Druid gratefully acknowledges the support of The Arts Council of Ireland and Culture Ireland.

The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, and has received additional support from the Scottish Government's Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund and Creative Scotland’s Recovery Fund for Cultural Organisations.

Reviews

WINNER: SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST 2022

★★★★★'This play is ... a true work of genius'- The Times

★★★★★ 'Astonishingly original' - What's On Stage

★★★★★'A spectacular piece of theatre' - The Wee Review

★★★★★'Blisteringly funny' - The Arts Desk

★★★★★'Superb design by Francis O’Connor' - BritishTheatre.com

★★★★'Elegant and powerful ... beautifully delivered' -The Scotsman

★★★★ 'Remarkably clever, and with an underhanded wit and thirst for violence' - The Reviews Hub

★★★★ 'More absurd and surprising by the minute' - Fest Mag

★★★★ ‘Pitch black comic mayhem’ - The Guardian

★★★★‘A shocking and very funny play’ - The Irish Times

★★★★ ‘You'd be insane to miss this hilarious, thought-provoking production... Joyce deftly turns situation comedy into Dr Strangelove, or Catch 22...genius in its simplicity’ - The Arts Review

'May well be both the funniest and most politically devastating play on the Fringe this year' - The National

'Chaos, “The Last Return” suggests, lies in wait everywhere, but so, too, do humanity and compassion, if we are lucky enough to experience them — and this play.' - New York Times

Watch the trailer:

If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.