Upper Clyde Shipbuilders a new play: Yes! Yes! U.C.S.!
Townsend Theatre Productions in association with Manchester University present the story of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) using their trademark integration of live rock and folk inspired music, sound and visual effects to enhance the powerful theatrical story-telling, to intensify the emotional engagement and audience enthusiasm for meaningful and important messages of hope, social justice and improvements in quality of life.
Yes! Yes! U.C.S! is a celebration of the community solidarity, collective resistance and the vital support that made the ‘Work In’ such a massive success. John Lennon and Yoko Ono sent a bunch of roses with message for the people of Glasgow; it read:
“Power to the People!”
REVIEWS
- "Come With us, run with us we're going to change the world' Lynne Walsh The Morning Star Read the full review
- 'Tells the story of the Clydeside Shipbuilder work-in as a two-hander with excellent writing, innovative staging and amazing attention to detail. ' IKE AWARD for 'OUTSTANDING THEATRE' Chris Neville-Smith Read the full review
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" It'll leave you wondering, does it get any better!'
Ron Simpson Reviews Hub Read the full review - 'A theatrical triumph of British working-class history.' Claire Jenns The Voice Magazine Read the full review
- 'Superbly played and sung ..... compassionate commemoration' Joyce McMillan The Scotsman Read the full review
- 'Yes! Yes! UCS! is real, raw, and riveting'. Amber O' Connell Yorkshire Live Read the full review
- ‘The balance between human interest & the bigger picture is well struck, & the show’s themes & motifs certainly remain relevant today’ Sara Smith Musical Theatre Review Read the full review
- 'Inspiring true story of workers’ power' Phil Turner Socialist Worker Read the full review
- 'A big story wittily told in word and song' Clare Brennan The Observer Read the full review
- 'Tour De Force' Jimmy Cloughley (UCS work-in veteran)
It’s 1971 and Aggy McGraw, straight out of school, gets an office job at Fairfields shipyard in Govan a week before the new Tory government decides to stop any investment in what they call ‘lame duck’ industries, which includes shipbuilding on the Clyde. Facing an uncertain future, she has nothing to lose, except her job, and is swept up into the famous ‘Work In’ to demonstrate to the government that shipbuilding has a future - that the jobs, traditions, skills and communities can be saved.
Townsend Theatre Productions’ new play Yes! Yes! U.C.S! is a celebration of the community solidarity and collective resistance inspired and led by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ shop stewards Jimmy’s Reid and Airlie, attracting massive national and international support that led to victory in the fight for Right to Work.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono sent a bunch of roses
with message for the people of Glasgow; it read:
“Power to the People!”
TOUR DATES
- Feb 15 - Working Class Movement Library, Salford 51 Crescent, Salford M5 4WX TICKETS
- Feb 16 - Working Class Movement Library, Salford 51 Crescent, Salford M5 4WX BOX OFFICE: 0161 736 3601 / WEBSITE
- Feb 17 - Working Class Movement Library, Salford 51 Crescent, Salford M5 4WX BOX OFFICE: 07762 159115 / WEBSITE
- Feb 18 - 7.30pm - Kairos/Westcliffe Hall, Harlow Terr, Harrogate 2 HARLOW TERRACE, HARROGATE HG2 0PN BOX OFFICE: 01423 560558 / WEBSITE TICKETS: £12
- Feb 23 - The Lantern Theatre Sheffield 18 Kenwood Park Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield, S7 1NF BOX OFFICE: 0114 255 1776 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Feb 24 - The Lantern theatre Sheffield 18 Kenwood Park Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield ,S7 1NF BOX OFFICE: 0114 255 1776 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Feb 25 - The Lantern Theatre Sheffield 18 Kenwood Park Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1NF TICKETS
- Mar 12 - 10.00 am - A DAY OF TALKS & MUSIC at Golden Friendship Community Hall Clydebank 18 Nairn Pl, Clydebank, G81 4AU TICKETS: A DAY'S FREE WORKSHOP EVENT But by ticket only
- Mar 15 - 8.00PM - Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton Dunkley St, Wolverhampton WV1 4AN BOX OFFICE: 01902 572 090 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Mar 18 - 7:30PM - Portland Royal Manor Theatre 138A Fortuneswell, Portland DT5 1LT BOX OFFICE: 03336 663366 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Mar 19 - 7.30pm - Studland Village Hall Heath Green Rd, Studland, Swanage BH19 3BT BOX OFFICE: 03336 663366 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Mar 24 - 7:30PM - Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle 43 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4SG BOX OFFICE: 0191 261 0384 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Mar 28 - 8.00pm - The Pearce Institute Govan Glasgow Scotland G51 3UU BOX OFFICE: 01414456007 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 10 - 4:00PM - The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington 9-11 Fore St, Great Torrington, Torrington EX38 8HQ BOX OFFICE: 01805 624624 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 12 - 7PM - New York Stadium, Rotherham Brooklyn Suite Level 1, New York Way, S60 1FJ BOX OFFICE: 07810824223 / WEBSITE TICKETS: £10
- Apr 14 - 7:30PM - Public Hall and Theatre, Beccles Smallgate, Beccles NR34 9AD BOX OFFICE: 01502 770060 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 21 - 8.00pm - Caroline Street Social Club Saltaire West Yorkshire TICKETS: Info: marisaaitken52@gmail.com
- Apr 22 - 5pm - Friends’ Meeting House, Manchester BSL 6 Mount St, Manchester, M2 5NS BOX OFFICE: info@townsendproductions.org.uk / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 23 - 7:00PM - St Columbkille’s Hall, Rutherglen Main Street Rutherglen BOX OFFICE: Geraldine Baird 01416477779 / WEBSITE
- Apr 24 - 7:30PM - St John the Baptist Church Hall Main Street, Fauldhouse, West Lothian EH47 BOX OFFICE: info@unityconsulting.scot or from Neil Findlay on 07881 512 341 / WEBSITE
- Apr 26 - 7.30pm - Arts Centre, Birnam BOX OFFICE: 01350 727 674 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 27 - 7pm - North Edinburgh Arts @ West Pilton Neigbourhood Centre 19 West Pilton Grove, Edinburgh EH4 4BY BOX OFFICE: 0131 315 2151 / WEBSITE TICKETS
- Apr 28 - 7:30PM - Kirkby Stephen Sports & Social Club Market Street Cumbria CA17 4QN BOX OFFICE: 017683 71885 / WEBSITE TICKETS: Email: Kate@kirkbystephencommunityarts.co.uk
- Apr 29 - 7:30PM - Wreay Village Hall Chapel Hill Carlisle Cumbria CA4 0RL BOX OFFICE: 07551 657618 / WEBSITE TICKETS: Email: kath.halfpenny@yahoo.co.uk
- Apr 30 - 7:30PM - Melmerby Village Hall Church Road Penrith Cumbria CA10 1HD BOX OFFICE: 01768 882498 / WEBSITE TICKETS: Email: robertrobbed@aol.com
- May 1 - 7:30PM - Arnside Educational Institute Church Hill Arnside Carnforth Cumbria LA5 0DF BOX OFFICE: 01524762254 / WEBSITE TICKETS: Email: suediane57@gmail.com