Made in Dagenham

Expectations were high for this show and they were fulfilled. Based on true events of the ladies at Ford Dagenham striking successfully for equal pay, the storyline of the families and workers most affected propelled the audience along matched with rousing musical numbers. Solid performances were delivered by all the principals. Susan Macfarlane in the hefty lead role of Rita (on the night I attended) sang her heart out in all of her numbers like Stand Up and Nearly Had it All, and demonstrated nicely how she was torn between cause and family. Gavin Orr as her husband Eddie caught the struggle between wanting his wife to succeed and coping with the relentless round of childminding and family chores, summed up in an emotional The Letter, before realising the enormity of what his wife achieved. Shirley McNulty as Connie, Rita’s role model trade unionist, brought dignity and pathos to the role especially in her song Same Old Story and the memorable line ‘nothing changes if it it isn’t challenged’. Her erstwhile old flame Monty played wholeheartedly by Ronnie Honey showed how, as the women’s representative, he milked his position but had the courage to admit he had let the girls down. Jane Kerr as Beryl brought out the humour and earthiness of the character with some lovely timing. Jo McKie gave a realistic Barbara Castle spelling life out in a well sung Ideal World while her boss PM Harold Wilson was brought to comic life by David Campbell. Ian Atherton’s interpretation of his role as Mr Hopkins the firm’s manager impressed. His wife Lisa showed that it was also middle class women whose talents were ignored. Ian Wallace El-Paget tackled his American bully role Mr Tooley with gusto and the audience responded. Minor roles supported the whole with Lauren Honey a ditsy Clare, Cherry Hayburn a flighty Sandra, Malcolm McNulty, the superior Mr Buckston, Brian Robertson as Cortina Man and the children Oliver Fensom and Sophie Banks. The chorus and cast sang with fervour in This is What We Want, Made in Dagenham and the well harmonised and evocative Storm Clouds before the emotional Stand Up. The show resounded with music and passion so that the staging, the slick scene changing especially with the sewing machines and the use of space blended in and took a back seat. This was a moving and well presented production of which everyone can be proud. On alternative performances Rita was played by Chris Taylor.

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