Its author, Horton Foote, won the 1963 Best Screenplay Oscar for his adaptation of the classic Harper Lee novel.
He wrote The Trip To Bountiful for TV in 1953, and soon afterwards it made its Broadway debut, scoring Tony, Theatre World and Outer Critics Circle awards.
Foote also turned his script into a screenplay for the 1985 film version, and got a nomination for another Oscar for his efforts.
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READ NOWNearly 30 years later, Roleystone resident Kim Martin directs the stage version that opened on Friday night, showing the timeless appeal of the story of Mrs Watts.
The ageing widow, living with her son and daughter-in-law in a small city apartment, longs to return to her home town, Bountiful, and decides she will not rest until she can return.
Eventually, she must decide whether she can reconcile the life she once led with the life she must live now, and face the future with peace.
Martin said he still found the story as moving as he did when he first saw the film many years ago.
‘The Trip To Bountiful deals with many issues that people face at one time or another in their journey through life, whether it’s lost dreams, lost love, disappointments or family tensions,’ he said.
‘They’re all dealt with in a very compassionate yet realistic way ” most audience members will find something they identify closely with.’