A new play based on the story of the case of the Shrewsbury 24 will première at The Lantern Theatre, Liverpool from September 24 to October 11 and then tour the UK until December, including dates in London.
In the 1960s and 70s the UK’s building companies were making millions re-building the country, but building workers faced the most dangerous working conditions and poorest wages of any trade.
In the summer of '72, for 12 weeks, 300,000 building workers launched their industry's first national all-out strike to end cash "lump" wages and seek better pay by using the controversial tactic of flying pickets.
Combining Townsend Productions' trademark small two-hander cast playing multiple roles, grand theatrical style and wit with popular and political songs about the strike re-arranged by renowned folk musician John Kirkpatrick and Ricky Tomlinson's poems from his time in prison, the production aims to bring the story of the dispute to life in a thought-provoking new play.
Hear writer Neil Gore talking about this play in the BTG podcast.