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What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Story That Refuses to Be Forgotten
Some shows arrive with jazz hands and glitter. Others arrive carrying something heavier — history, truth, and a quiet insistence that we look again.
Our Little Hour is very much the latter.
This critically acclaimed new musical, commissioned by Show Racism the Red Card, is touring England this February and March as part of a national campaign to address a century-old injustice surrounding the life of Walter Tull — Britain’s first Black British Army officer, and a man whose bravery was recognised in words, but never in the honour it deserved.
The production arrives at Alphabetti Theatre from 5–7 March, bringing with it an extraordinary true story that still resonates painfully today.
Hailed as “utterly compelling” and “an intensely moving new musical drama,” Our Little Hour traces Walter Tull’s remarkable life — from becoming the first Black footballer to play at the highest level of the domestic game in the UK, to breaking yet another barrier when he was commissioned as an officer in the British Army in 1917. This appointment came despite an official ruling made just three years earlier stating that British Army officers should be of “pure European descent.”
The musical places particular focus on Walter’s actions during a mission on 1 January 1918, when he led a party of 26 men across the Piave River in Northern Italy. Tasked with shielding the rest of the battalion during a dangerous raid, Walter returned with every single man alive and unharmed — an act that earned him a citation for “gallantry and coolness” under fire from Major-General Sydney Lawford, Commander of the 41st Division.
And yet, for reasons never adequately explained, the Military Cross for which he was recommended was never awarded.
Actor Leon Newman, who plays Walter Tull in the production, is clear that while Our Little Hour is an artistic celebration, it is also a call to action — part of an ongoing mission to persuade the British Government to finally honour the award Walter so clearly earned. Playwright Dougie Blaxland places this injustice at the very heart of the drama, noting that the failure to recognise Walter’s bravery is made all the more painful by the fact that he was killed just three months later, fighting in Northern France.
Director Amanda Horlock describes the show as a celebration of “an extraordinary man whose pioneering spirit continues to inspire the campaign for justice and equality,” while Paul Kearns, Director of Operations at Show Racism the Red Card, believes the production plays a vital role in engaging new audiences in the charity’s ongoing work to combat racism.
To date, more than 3,000 people have signed the campaign petition calling for Walter Tull to be posthumously awarded the Military Cross and honoured with a statue in London. But as Blaxland notes, there is still a long way to go to reach the 10,000 signatures needed for a formal government response — and the hope is that audiences, moved by Walter’s story, will help push that number forward.
This is theatre doing what theatre does best: remembering, restoring, and refusing to let history quietly pass us by.
Grace has delivered many stories in her time — but some are heavier than others. Our Little Hour is one of those.
Full Tour Schedule with Venues
Tues 3rd to Sat 7th Feb Greenwich Theatre London https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/ourlittlehour/
Tues 10th Feb Mercury Theatre Colchester
Weds 11th & Thurs 12th Feb The Core Corby
Fri 13th Feb Salford Arts Salford
https://www.salfordartstheatre.com/Whats-on
Sat 14th Feb The Swan Theatre Worcester
https://worcestertheatres.co.uk/swan-theatre
Tues 17th & Weds 18th Feb Barnfield Theatre Exeter
Thurs 19th to Sat 21st Feb Hope Street Theatre Liverpool
Tues 24 Feb The Stahl Theatre Oundle Northamptonshire
https://stahltheatre.savoysystems.co.uk/StahlTheatre.dll
Weds 25 Feb The Atkinson Theatre Southport https://theatkinson.co.uk/events/our-little-hour/
Thurs 26th Feb The Blackfriars Theatre Boston
https://m.blackfriarsartscentre.co.uk/mobile_whatson.php
Fri 27th & Sat 28th Feb The MAC Theatre Birmingham
Weds 4th March Alnwick Playhouse
Thurs 5th to Sat 7th March Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle
https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/ourlittlehour
Tues 10th March The Redgrave Theatre Bristol
Weds 11th March The Lighthouse Theatre Poole
Thurs 12 th March Dorchester Arts
https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/whats-on
Fri 13th & Sat 14th March Yvonne Arnaud Guildford
https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
Tues 17th & Weds 18th March Beam Theatre Hertford
Fri 20th & Sat 21st March The Courtyard Theatre Leeds
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