RENOWNED playwright Gordon Steel brings his witty heart-warming play Grow Up Grandad back to Teesside next month before taking it on tour to venues across the North.

He has also recently secured publication of the script by the London music and theatre publishing company, Josef Weinberger.

The play premiered to acclaim at Stockton Arc last autumn. This year's week-long run is from Monday to Saturday, September 5 to 10.

“It’s always rewarding when your plays get published as it allows a worldwide audience to have access to your work," said Mr Steel, who lives in Eaglescliffe.

"I have people still performing and studying plays that I wrote over 20 years ago. I was in a school recently and the students there had copies of one of my plays and it is always good to know they are still enjoying and getting pleasure from it. I hope that happens with Grow Up Grandad.”

The play was premiered by his Steelworks theatre company and received an incredible response from audiences throughout its initial week-long run of performances.

This year's tour includes Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday, September 21 (7.30pm), with other performances at the Customs House in South Shields, Whitby Pavilion and Carriage Works Theatre in Leeds.

The lead role of troubled teenager Poppy will again be shared by Teesside school girls Eliza Dobson and Rose Allen, who were 13 and 12 respectively when they made their on stage debuts in the role last year.

Grow Up Grandad is about Poppy and her grumpy grandfather who are both forced to live together when trouble arises in their family. The pair clash initially, but slowly learn to appreciate each other’s differences before shocking truths are revealed.

Mr Steel mentored hundreds of aspiring actors at Stockton Youth Theatre. Many are now well-recognised on the TV screen and stage including Jill Halfpenny, Daniel Casey, Mark Benton and Simeon Truby, who returns to play cantankerous Grandad.

The performance on Monday, September 5, will be BSL interpreted. The performance on Tuesday, September 6, will be followed by a question and answer session with the playwright and performers.

Tickets can be bought from Arc’s box office on 01642 525199 or online at www.arconline.co.uk.