Made in Dagenham

LEOS MTC – Made in Dagenham the Musical

What a fantastic show! Huge congratulations to LEOS MTC for their production of Made in Dagenham. Packed full of talent and energy, this musical was a joy to watch. Based on the true story of the 1960s Ford strikes and the fight for equal pay for women, this production beautifully captured the heart and message of the story.

Rachelle Bragg shone as Rita O’Grady, the driving force behind the strike and campaign for equal pay. She delivered a powerful performance with a strong singing voice and excellent stage presence. Her relationship with her husband and children felt very genuine and heartfelt throughout.

Kheenan Jones as Eddie O’Grady, brought a fresh take to the role, gentle, loving, and layered with frustration. His performance was both touching and believable, perfectly complementing Rachelle’s portrayal of Rita. His rendition of 'The Letter' was particularly moving, rich with emotion and leaving the audience deeply moved.

Young performers Anja Harvey (Sharon O’Grady) and William Curtis (Graham O’Grady) also deserve special mention. The family connection between the O'Grady characters felt authentic and warm, very believable and endearing.

Alex Tavener portrayed Barbara Castle well with great conviction and Ali Langton gave his best performance yet as Harold Wilson. Their interactions brought humour and contrast, and both were well-pitched and memorable.

Rachel Merrill the feisty Lisa Hopkins was excellent and Adam Worton as Mr Hopkins was convincing in his role as the factory boss.

Other key roles that added strength to this show were Rita’s close-knit group of friends. Mina Holtom as Beryl was a comedic standout, She was exceptionally funny, and her timing was crucial to the delivery of several standout lines, all of which she executed with great success. Ellie Simmonds as Sandra, Amy Parker as Clare and Natalie Webster as Cass each brought their character to life with strong performances and great chemistry throughout the group.

Philippa Buchanan gave a heartfelt portrayal of Connie, the older mentor figure to Rita. Her performance was both warm and moving, providing emotional weight to the story.

A personal highlight was Andy Cattanach as Monty. What a privilege to see him back on stage. His portrayal of the bumbling yet well-meaning union rep was spot-on.

Adam Guest was impressive as the intimidating Mr Tooley, opening Act 2 with a powerful rendition of This is America.

It was also great to see such a strong male ensemble, something not always common in amateur musical theatre. Their contribution added a rich vocal depth, especially noticeable in the group numbers.

Simon Parker, making his directorial debut, did a brilliant job. His ability to bring out the best in each character and maintain energy throughout the show is to be commended with support from Assistant Director Laura Davey, they made a fantastic team.

Victoria Palmer’s choreography was well thought out and very well executed by the entire cast. It was engaging, entertaining, and perfectly matched the energy of the musical.

Jonah Williams, the Musical Director, led a large band with confidence and skill. The musicality of the production was high. Jonah continues to go from strength to strength, skilfully harmonising the diverse range of voices within the cast.

Behind the scenes, huge credit goes to the stage crew, led by Katie Bird. David Price’s lighting design was detailed and effective, Laura Davey created brilliant props, and Matt Haslam ensured top-notch sound quality.

LEOS MTC continue to strive for greater accessibility and inclusivity in their productions. This show featured tickets for carers, trained Front of House staff, dementia specific training, an audio programme, a touch tour, British Sign Language interpreter and a quiet room for those needing a break from noise or crowds. A fantastic effort that should be applauded!

A thoroughly enjoyable show with passion, talent, and professionalism at its heart. LEOS MTC should be proud of what they've achieved with Made in Dagenham, well done to all involved.

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