United We Stand
United We Stand
Oran Mor, Glasgow
Neil Cooper
When a convicted prisoner talks about how the real conspiracies in the country are not between trade unionists and workers, but with politicians and corporations protecting the wealthy few, and how trade unions may soon be illegal, you could be forgiven for thinking the words are spoken by some contemporary dissident.
As it is, they are the parting shots from striking builders Des Warren and future comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson.
In 1972, along with 22 other men and following a volatile period of industrial unrest in the UK, they were convicted under the 19th century law of "conspiracy to intimidate and affray". It is the plight of the men who became known as the Shrewsbury 24 that is the subject of Neil Gore's loose-knit musical play for Townsend Productions which is currently on a tour of the country that takes in North Edinburgh Arts Centre tonight and Blantyre Miners Welfare club on Sunday. With the help of just an overhead projector, some factory-grey stools and a couple of makeshift signs, Gore and onstage sparring partner William Fox transform a grim battle between workers and construction industry fat-cats into a working-man's club style cabaret, flat-caps, bad suits and all.
Arriving in Scotland to promote the campaign to quash the guilty verdicts that still stand for the 24, the mix of songs and sketches that breaks up the narrative in Louise Townsend's rough-cast production is unashamedly partisan.
Coming at a time too when basic workers rights are once again under fire by big business, it is not just a good night out, but a vital piece of recent history.
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