NEWS

One of three online projects funded by Arts Council England: 

Edited archive footage of the production 'We are the Lions, Mr. Manager! touring production 2017-18/ filmed at TARA Theatre, Earlsfield, London in November 2017

To view film click link https://youtu.be/emDZYCbX_Eg

If you enjoy the film please make a donation via our donate pop up or on Support Us page. A suggested donation would be £3 which would help the company through these difficult times. Many Thanks. 

The Grunwick Strike of 1976 to 1978 wasn’t a strike about wages – it was about something much more important than that: it was about dignity. Dignity at work. Newly arrived immigrant workers were employed by the Grunwick film processing factory in North London in the belief that they would be easy to handle, to browbeat and to exploit. Yet, they found their own distinctive voice in the course of the struggle to secure their rights. Each morning the strikers, a group of predominantly Asian women led by Jayaben Desai, in colourful saris often hidden beneath heavy woollen coats, would take up their posts on the picket lines, unbowed and unbroken in the face of intimidation, the threat of arrest and the sting of the cold. Even during the hardest of times, Jayaben Desai had the uncanny ability to evoke a mood or sum up a situation with a perfectly weighted turn of phrase and a way and with words that captured the very essence of the human spirit. She had the measure of the most brutish and charmless of her managers, when she told them: ‘What you are running here is not a factory, it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips, others are lions who can bite your head off. We are the lions, Mr. Manager!’

Grunwick truly did make history: it focused the issue of the exploitation of immigrant workers, nailed the myth that Asian workers were passive and unorganisable and defined the trade union and political lives of tens of thousands from across the nation who came to the streets of Willesden to back the Grunwick workers. Grunwick was a defeat. But a struggle like Grunwick cannot be considered a total loss. It illustrated how a section of totally unorganised workers, ignorant of trade unionism and insecure in a foreign land can yet develop militancy and attract huge solidarity. It showed too that all the forces of the state, the monied, the media, the police, the courts, employers, racial prejudice and women’s inequality can be swept aside by the freshness and dynamism of determined struggle. Grunwick is still posing questions to today’s generation about the role in society of women, workers and immigrants. And the strike still carries a challenging message about the need for human dignity. 

The play was written by Neil Gore, directed by Louise Townsend and features Medhavi Patel as Jayaben Desai and Neil Gore as almost everybody else. 

COMING SOON! - Podcast of 'Dare Devil Rides To Jarama' & a documentary film of interviews made with Shipbuilding communities across the UK.

The script is available to buy from Stagescripts: 

http://shop.stagescripts.com/categories/plays/mid-length/drama/we-are-the-lions-mr-manager.html

The Covid 19 is having an impact on our forthcoming plans.  Performances of Ragged Trousered Philanthropists that were planned for this Spring have been subject to some alterations.  So far West Bromwich Library on 28th March is postponed until September TBC.  We shall update you on other performances in due course, but the likelihood is that these shows will be postponed. 'Yes Yes UCS' is still development and are waiting on guidance from Arts Council & DCMS.

In the meantime wish everyone a safe time through this difficult period.

Many Thanks

Louise & Neil 

We dodged the storms to travel to Belfast to meet former workers and trade union officials from Harland and Wolff in Belfast. It was a great pleasure to meet stagers, welders, platers, red leaders, draughtsmen, and campaigners with extraordinary stories of hard dangerous work and tales of camaraderie and community support through good times and bad. Some lovely pictures across the Irish Sea too!

Thanks to John Mcquaide for bringing in some photos of the ‘stagers’ squad at Harland and Wolff in the early seventies on top of a crane (what? No harness?!) and later when health and safety became more of a concern, with hard-hats and overalls.

Whilst at Harland and Wolff in Belfast, we met ex-Shipyard workers and workers involved in the recent ‘Save Our Ship Yard’ campaign. It was a pleasure to meet Joe Passmore from Unite, part of the campaign group of workers that took control of the yard last year to save it from complete closure, and talk about the future of the yard and how the events on the Upper Clyde and the Work-in fifty years ago were an inspiration for their own campaign.

As part of our Arts Council England Research & Development Project, we recently visited Sunderland Maritime Heritage to meet and interview former shipyard workers on the Wear, and to view the brilliant collection of historical shipbuilding artefacts on display. Definitely worth a visit!

Pics show Louise and Neil in PPE (personal protective equipment) for our tour of BAE Systems Shipyard in Govan, formerly the site of Fairfields Shipyard - the strict health and safety considerations now in place are a far, far cry from life in the shipyards, say, fifty years ago.

It was amazing to see the processes involved in creating a modern ship today; in this case a Type 45 frigate HMS Glasgow, a world away from squads of men riveting or welding by hand in the great outdoors, whatever the weather! Thanks to the conveners and safety reps for making us so welcome. The shipyard was saved from closure and remained open after the U.C.S. Work-in, and has stayed working ever since!

As part of our research and development project that is focussed on UK shipbuilding, we’re looking forward to meeting retired former shipbuilders in Sunderland this coming week at the Maritime Heritage. Here’s some excellent pictures of Wearside shipbuilding dating from the mid-sixties and early seventies.

We've been busy carrying out research for our upcoming show about the famous Upper Clyde Shipbuilders' (UCS) 'Work-In'. There’s plenty to go through to do justice to what was an inspiring campaign in the fight for the right to work. 

The black-and-white photos are from the UCS shipyards at the time, together with a shot of the shop stewards’ meeting in 1971 showing Jimmy Reid (centre) and Jimmy Airlie (right).

Keep an eye on this page for further updates. You can also follow our progress on our Facebook page and on Twitter.

This week we visited the site of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ (UCS) yard as part of our research into the inspiring story behind the UCS workers' 'Work In' of 1971/2. Our visit took in Fairfield Heritage's "The Story of Glasgow’s Greatest Shipyard" including a look around the former boardroom and offices as well as the main entrance.

Pictured is Louise standing in the entrance gates of the famous shipyard, and also a photograph of how it looked in 1970. It's well worth a visit to the brilliantly-restored building and excellent exhibition.

BAE Systems still operate the shipyard to this day, a yard that would now be closed if it wasn’t for the now famous UCS 'Work-In'. It is this story which forms the basis for our exciting new show which will feature rock and folk music of the time. Keep an eye on this page for further details!

Neil is still busy touring The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, described as 'an entertaining, absorbing show, wrapped around a kernel of socialist vision that leaves its audience thinking, discussing and debating – as well as smiling' (The Reviews Hub).

Ragged will be performed at East Harptree Theatre in Bristol on Thursday 23 January, and thereafter at venues across the UK including West Bromwich, Sheffield, Dumfries & Galloway, and Warrington - further details here.

We’ve been busy working on our Arts Council-funded research and development project into the story of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS). This will be the focus of our new play, specifically UCS’s historic 1971 dispute which, unusually, took the form of a work-in and resulted in the then Heath-led government relenting to the demands of the workers.

As part of our research we have been carrying out interviews, including with Stephen Roxborough (pictured), ex-shipbuilder at Govan, and Margaret Gilmore (pictured), widow of Sam Gilmore, former convener of shop stewards at Govan Shipbuilders.

We also visited Appledore to interview ex-shipbuilders there. See our photos taken at Appledore (right). In 1970, it was upgraded and opened as the first covered shipyard in the UK.

Following our interviews and discussions, Neil is currently busy writing the script - watch this space!

Over the coming weeks, we will be continuing this research in Belfast and in Tyne & Wear.

Amazing day, John McDonnell Shadow Chancellor attended the show and said it was "A phenomenal performance' 

We were delighted to be asked to be part of the panel on BBC Radio 4's #THeListeningProject presented  by Fi Glover.  It was filmed at Tara_Arts  for its's 'I'll say It Again Festival'  celebrating the centenary of Women's Suffrage which we are also part of. You can hear Medhavi Patel speaking about the show and it's relevance to today. A great night was had by all. Thank you.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b1hy9q

FINAL WK. @Tara_Arts @hertfordtheatre @WatermansArts @brightonfringe #OldCourtroom 9.00pm

Amazing night at Skip Sumaj last weekend- Anoup said

' This was really an honour. We welcomed so many people to our Samaj to learn and pay tribute to the incredible Jayaben Desai. A Gujarati woman who altered the course of life for thousands upon thousands of people.

All she asked for was dignity, respect and equality. It seems simple enough but the battles and war that ensued seeking basic human rights was long with so much stacked against the "Strikers in Sarees". 

Gujarati people have bought so much to the U.K. this was one story we were glad to promote alongside our very own stories here in Cardiff.

Amazing 'We Are The Lions Mr Manager'  by Neil Gore  was a 'Don't miss' in The Guardian Guide on Saturday 

We Are The Lions Mr Manger made front page news with our first review in The Morning Star click on this link to read review http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f0a5-Rising-like-lions-to-change-labour-history#.WeXRfxNSzL8

Townsend Theatre Productions are pleased to announce Medhavi Patel will be taking on the role of Jayaben Desai in the world premiere of We Are The Lions, Mr Manager.

The role of Jayaben Desai holds particular significance to Patel after she learned she is a distant relative of the iconic leader.

Medhavi Patel's previous stage work has seen her star in Tales of Birbal, Trident Moon and Fragile Land, and she has starred in TV shows including Doctors and Holby City.

Interview with Medhvai Patel by Saskia Murphy (Journalist)

How does it feel, as an actor from a Gujarati background, to be playing Jayaben Desai?

It is incredibly exciting. This is the first time I'm playing a Gujarati woman, so it is a huge moment for me and a very proud moment too. My parents moved to the UK in 1979 and my mum worked in a couple of factories when they first came here, so Jayaben's story is one that resonates with me on a personal level. I remember there wasn't much security in my mum's factory jobs. She once worked in laundrette factory and I remember her coming home and vomiting and having headaches because of the fumes and the chemicals. My mum is very proud to see me bringing this story to life.

You are a distant relative of Jayaben's, can you tell us more about that?

I didn't know Jayaben directly but my family knew her, and a member of our family married Jayaben's son. But despite the family connection I didn't actually know about the Grunwick Strike when I was growing up. I couldn't believe that nobody had told me about this powerful woman who is a part of our distant family circle.

Why do you think you were never told about Jayaben?

One thing that I have noticed, as much as I love my culture and my tradition, is that Indian families don't always pass down these amazing stories. We've have all the stories about Gandhi and about powerful men, but what about the women who played a part in modern culture? We don't explore and celebrate them enough. I guess it must have been sensitive, even for Jayaben. As strong as a character that she was, often at that time women weren't loud, they would just get on with it. We were known to just do our job and that's it. The men were the breadwinners and they were the ones that fought for the family, so to have this woman who started this strike, it must have shaken everyone. It's something to be proud of but also it was probably quite difficult for her to exist within her community at the time, because no doubt there were probably people who were telling her that it wasn't a good idea, but Jayaben was ahead of her time and was determined to achieve justice. I don't know why these stories aren't passed down but I feel that they should be, so I am honoured to be retelling Jayaben's story on stage.

How does it feel, as an actor from a Gujarati background, to be playing Jayaben Desai?

It is incredibly exciting. This is the first time I'm playing a Gujarati woman, so it is a huge moment for me and a very proud moment too. My parents moved to the UK in 1979 and my mum worked in a couple of factories when they first came here, so Jayaben's story is one that resonates with me on a personal level. I remember there wasn't much security in my mum's factory jobs. She once worked in laundrette factory and I remember her coming home and vomiting and having headaches because of the fumes and the chemicals. My mum is very proud to see me bringing this story to life.

I didn't know Jayaben directly but my family knew her, and a member of our family married Jayaben's son. But despite the family connection I didn't actually know about the Grunwick Strike when I was growing up. I couldn't believe that nobody had told me about this powerful woman who is a part of our distant family circle.

One thing that I have noticed, as much as I love my culture and my tradition, is that Indian families don't always pass down these amazing stories. We've have all the stories about Gandhi and about powerful men, but what about the women who played a part in modern culture? We don't explore and celebrate them enough. I guess it must have been sensitive, even for Jayaben. As strong as a character that she was, often at that time women weren't loud, they would just get on with it. We were known to just do our job and that's it. The men were the breadwinners and they were the ones that fought for the family, so to have this woman who started this strike, it must have shaken everyone. It's something to be proud of but also it was probably quite difficult for her to exist within her community at the time, because no doubt there were probably people who were telling her that it wasn't a good idea, but Jayaben was ahead of her time and was determined to achieve justice. I don't know why these stories aren't passed down but I feel that they should be, so I am honoured to be retelling Jayaben's story on stage.

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Neil reading 'The Volunteer' by Day-Lewis and leads the singing of 'The Internationale' at the unveiling of the IBMT memorial to the Oxford and Oxfordshire volunteers and activists in the Spanish Civil War.

May Day gathering and March at the Marx Memorial Library at Clerkenwell Green London.
Neil Gore singing songs to hundreds gathered before marching to Trafalgar Square
on Monday 1 May 2017.