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Dateline: 28th November, 2005
For its fifth anniversary production, The Factory Girls by Frank Mcguinness, the Arcola Theatre returns to its former glory as a clothing factory to tell the story of five shirt factory workers who find the strength and the spirit to stand up to the ever increasing demands of their bosses.
Arcola was founded by its Turkish Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen, who rented the theatre space from the upstairs laundrette in the heart of Dalston, London’s textile district. During the early years, Ergen would literally live in the theatre, often sleeping on the stage, with a dedicated group of volunteers intent on building up the Arcola’s reputation while keeping the bailiffs from the door, lacking as they did any form of Arts Council funding. Arcola has since received two Time Out Awards and two Peter Brook Empty Space Awards in recognition of the high quality of its programming and artistic integrity, attracting companies such as Out of Joint, the Oxford Stage Company and Clean Break while continuing an ambitious mixed body of work, from new interpretations of classic plays to musicals and the very best new writing. The Factory Girls stars Catherine Cusack, sister of Sinead and daughter of Cyril Cusack recently played Anne in Shared Experience’s Brontë. She also played Carmel in Coronation Street and Frankie in Ballykissangel.
Director Raz Shaw arrives direct from his acclaimed version of Woman In Mind at Salisbury Playhouse. His other work includes The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek which transferred from Southwark Playhouse to The Royal Exchange, Manchester this year.
The set will be designed by the award winning Shunt collaborator Lizzie Clachan whose work includes Dance Bear Dance and Tropicana. Her astonishing transformation of a railway arch in Bethnal Green and now vaults in London have been legendary. Recent work also includes Ladybird at The Royal Court and The American Pilot at the RSC.
Since his debut on the Irish theatre scene with The Factory Girls (1982), Frank McGuinness has been one of the most prolific and significant playwrights of his generation, earning applause and awards throughout the English-speaking world (and beyond) for such plays as Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (1984) and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (1994). His most recent play – Speaking Like Magpies – has just opened to much acclaim at the RSC. The Factory Girls runs from 20th January (previews from 18th) to 18th February. Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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