Richard Vergette’s Leaving Vietnam comes to London’s Park Theatre

Richard Vergette brings his one-man play Leaving Vietnam to London this spring.

Following a successful Edinburgh Festival Fringe run in 2022, the production will play the Park Theatre from 14 March – 8 April 2023.

Written and performed by Richard Vergette, Leaving Vietnam follows a war veteran who feels ignored and alienated by the country he has faithfully served, and finds a home for his simmering resentment in Trump’s slogan ‘Make America Great Again’.

Jimmy Vandenberg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran, works alone in his garage servicing the classic American cars of his youth while struggling to forget his battle experiences. He can’t move on when his sacrifice is not acknowledged in a nation still shamed by defeat.

When Jimmy hears Trump’s call to ‘Make America Great Again’, it speaks to his anger and resentment – and he is hooked. His new-found politics drives a wedge between him and his wife, but a chance visit by the son of a fallen comrade makes him doubt his convictions and leads to a moment of understanding and redemption.

Richard Vergette said: “Jimmy Vandenberg began to take form after I watched Ken Burns’ documentary series The Vietnam War. Jimmy makes choices I don’t agree with, holds views that are not mine and has had to face incidents I can only wonder at, but I think we dismiss him as ‘deplorable’ at our peril.”

The show is directed by Andrew Pearson and Andy Jordan and produced by Andy Jordan Productions in association with Park Theatre.

For more information and tickets, visit www.parktheatre.co.uk